Marcia nuziale [English translation]

Weddings for love, weddings by force

All types of weddings, with all sorts of people

those dressed in rags and those in their finery

supposed notaries and fake professors

but even if I live until the end of time

I'll forever cherish the happy memory

of the modest wedding of my mother and father

having decided to make their love official at the altar

On an ox cart, to be frank,

pulled by friends and pushed by relatives,

they went to get married after an engagement

Lasting so long it could be called 'silver'.

An unusual ceremony, an odd sort of party,

the crowd looked at us wide-eyed

watched by all the civilized people

who'd never seen a marriage of the kind

The wind blew and carried away

the hat my father was mangling in his hand.

An unlucky sky opened up to a deluge of rain,

determined at all costs to stop the wedding.

I'll never forget the bride in tears,

cradling a bunch of wildflowers like a baby.

and I, nervously consoling her,

playing my harmonica like a church organ.

Throwing bare fists in the air all their friends

cried out "by Jove, the wedding will go on!"

for the sodden guests, for the mischievous Gods

the wedding will go on - long live the bride and groom!

• Artist:Fabrizio De André
• Album:Volume I (1967)