Sono solo canzonette [Italian translation]

I remember that years ago

passing by a bar

I hear a juke-box playing

and in a child's dreams

the guitar was a sword

and those who wouldn't believe it were pirates!

And the desire to sing

the desire to fly

maybe, that 's when it started

It might have been madness

but it's the only way

to always say what I want

I will never become

the General Firector

of post or railways

I will never get a carrier

in the evening newspaper

not least because I would end up in jail!

No one will ever give me

their vote to speak

or to decide about their future

in my category,

it's all frivolous people

people you can't trust.

Instead, look at all those great scientists,

physicians, lawyers,

that crowd of ministers and senators!

And think that right now,

while I'm here singing,

they are doing serious business!

For all the doubts and questions

nagging at your brain

go to them and don' t worry,

they're at your service

and always, without hesitation,

they will answer you!

Answers, I have none

I just do rock'n'roll

if it's fine by you, great,

I can only do so much.

The organizers from the Party

sent me another invite

and said this won't end well

if I don't come, too,

to the General Gathering

of the Great National Feast!

They said I can't

simply say no now,

that I owe my success to them, too,

that I am crazy, irresponsible,

I am ungrateful,

subversive, basically a criminal!

But what can you do about it?

You might think I'm not normal,

but it's instinct that allows me to fly

it's no game, no trick,

because the only illusion

regards the reality of reason

but to those in bad faith,

always on a witch hunt,

I say: No, it's nothing serious

and that's how it is, if you think so, 1

but let me vent

don't draw me to a corner

or with all the breath I have in my lungs

I will shout: No fear!

what politics, what culture,

they are just silly songs!

Don't draw me to a corner,

they're j...

they're j...

They are just silly songs!

1. "Ma non è una cosa serial" and "Così è (se vi pare)" are the titles of two comedies by Luigi Pirandello

• Artist:Edoardo Bennato
• Album:Sono solo canzonette (1980)