Bella Ciao is an Italian folk ballad, with a robust, storied past, the author of the lyrics is unknown; but the music and spirit of the song is based on a folk song sung by rice-weeders on the River Po basin in the early part of the 20th century,the earliest written version is dated 1906 and comes from near Vercelli, Piedmont.
It was revised and re-written during Word WarII for the Italian anti-fascist resistance fighters, and it has since becomes used worldwide as an anti-fascist hymn of freedom and resistance.
The original Partisan version sung in Italian can be found here:-
Many Italian versions, including this modern rendition by the Modena City Ramblers, have appeared over the years, while in addition to the original Italian, the song has been sung by revolutionaries and fighters the world over in numerous languages.including Arabic, Bosnian, Breton, Catalan, Chinese , Croatian, Danish, English, Esperanto, Finnish, German, Hungarian, Hebrew, Japanese, Persian, Kurdish, Norwegian, Occitan, Russian, Serbian, Slovenian, Spanish, Syriac, You can read more about the songs long history here http://riowang.blogspot.com/2008/12/bella-ciao.html
The following beautiful version featuring Tom Waits with his grizzled inimitable voice, that puts real feeling into his reading of the song, is taken from Songs of Resistance 1948-2016, the new album by guitarist Marc Ribot, who describes it as a protest record adding, "Every movement which has won anyrhing has had songs." “Tom brings a certain gravitas to everything he does,” says Ribot. “My Italian friends say he sounds exactly like an old ‘partigiano’ (resistance fighter)!”
The video below is directed by Jem Cohen and uses footage from anti-Trump demonstrations in Washington DC, that makes its parallels with modern life very explicit, the song is still so relevant for the world we are in today. Pairing Waits' vocals with footage of police and soldiers guarding barricades at anti-Trump protests.
This year. we have seen some of the biggest fascist demonstrations in decades, supported by the international Alt-right. The fight against these forces of fascism must continue, as the flower of resistance still grows strong..
Songs of Resistance 1942-2018 comes out today Sept. 14 via Anti-.
Bella Ciao
One fine morning
I woke up early
(bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao)
One fine morning
I woke up early
to find the fascist at my door.
O, partisano,
please, take me with you
(bella ciao, bella ciao, goodbye beautiful)
O, partisano,
please take me with you,
I’m not afraid anymore.
And if I die
a partisano
(bella ciao, bella ciao, goodbye beautiful)
bury me upon my mountain
beneath the shadow of a flower.
So all the people,
the people passing
(bella ciao, bella ciao, goodbye beautiful)
So all the people, the people passing,
they say “O, what a beautiful flower!”
This is the flower of the partisan
(bella ciao, bella ciao, goodbye beautiful)
This is the flower of the partisan
who died for freedom.
This is the flower
of the partisan
who died for freedom.
I landed on this blog for the first time a few minutes ago (via a search about Dave Edwards' book). I got curious to see the newest posts and...I find Tom Waits singing Bella Ciao?!?! I'm Italian and like Tom Waits and I didn't even know about it. That was kinda weird! Anyway...and if you'd like to swap stories about the song or whatever with stories about Datblygu, just let me know. ;-)
ReplyDelete(Ciao to you from a town on the Po river)
wow, what an amazing coincidence, I happen to be a good friend of Dave, though confess not heard from him for bit, but on all accounts is doing well. Will do, bye from a town on the mouth of the teifi river, West Wales.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear he's doing well.
ReplyDeleteHey, I just noticed that the Italian version you linked (that is not sung by an Italian, but that doesn't really matter) has wrong lyrics. It says "Seppellire suda in montagna" instead of "Seppellire lassù in montagna". So instead of "Bury (me) up there on the mountain" it actually says "Bury(ing) he sweats on the mountain". That turns out to be pretty hilarious, but not exactly reflecting the original mood and theme!
p.s. oh, lyrics...for a series of coincidences I'm currently in a challenge to myself to become able to have a basic conversation in Welsh - and that's Datblygu's fault because it's the only Welsh I ever heard. I'll have to complain with Dave for inspiring such insane ideas! ;-P
wow thanks for pointing that one out,have no understanding of Itaian, so would not have a clue, but yes does make it rather funny considering the essence of the original. Perhaps I should find another version but the Modeno City Ramblers is rather good.
ReplyDeleteMae sgwrs bach mewn Cymraeg, fy dysgwyr da fi ...a little conversation I am a learner,I also blame Dave Datblygu or Mr Edwards....insane ideas are not to bad, all the best,Dave (teifidancer)
Oh, you're a Dave too? Modena City Ramblers version is the one you hear(d) at basically every trade union rally, left-wing protest, student protest etc. Now the Italian left has basically self-destructed itself and hasn't even realized it yet and the average Italians seem attracted again by Mussolini-like figures so not sure where all this is going to bring us!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, a longer, older and more "classic" version with optional subtitles is here:
https://youtu.be/Uwjn9YBwNMg
p.s. hey sorry, I don't know how to write Welsh, I found a free on line course that's all based on speaking - which is better because written Welsh looks scary. But if you ever want to have an on-line audio chat, drop me a line (I think you can see my e-mail...maybe?) and we'll figure it out, I need to practice and I don't have many chances over here, you know!
Bore da/Good morning Gabriella thank you again for your thoughts, I am aware of the resurging risinded of fascist forces in your land, have a cuple of Italian friends on facebook that keep me informed. Scary times, across Europe these dark forces are spreading, think it is so important to counter them, they feed on fear, insecure times, masters of fermenting division.
ReplyDeleteNo need to say sorry, but there are a lot of good online courses, one called say something in Welsh I would strongly recommend. anyway will let you know,in the meantime have a great day, all the best.
Yeah, we do our best to resist and connect to sane (you know what I mean) people all over the world.
ReplyDeleteOh, bore da - I'm able to write that. Say something in Welsh is exactly the one I found (and am following), I like it! Have a nice weekend, all the best. (p.s. my name is Gisella but don't worry, I'm used to be called Gabriella, Graziella and all possible variants over here too, so I always answer anyway).
oops typing error Gisella, neis i siarad i ti, gobeithio t'in cael penwythnos da hefyd .nice to talk to you, hope you have a good weekend too.
ReplyDelete