Pasqualino Marajà, Domenico Modugno

A funny Italian Neapolitan song, oriental style, written by Modugno with Franco Migliacci.

The lyrics were inspired by a true story that filled the pages of the gossip of the time. The real story was about one Gennaro Ottieri, son of a wealthy family of Portici (he was graduated in medicine and not a fisherman as in the song) who, while on vacation on Capri, met an Indian princess, the two fell in love and married.

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Italian Regional Songs

Un certo Pasqualino pescatore,
viveva in assoluta povertà;
però sentiva sempre in fondo al cuore
qualcosa che diceva "un dì verrà!"

One fisherman, Pasqualino,
lived in absolute poverty;
but always felt deep in his heart
something saying "one day will come!"

E un bel dì giunse a Sorrento
una principessa indiana
sopra un grosso bastimento
la bellissima Kalì.

And one fine day arrived in Sorrento
an Indian princess
on a big ship
the beautiful Kali.

Pasqualino la guardò
e Kalì s'innamorò
ed in India lo portò.

Pasqualino looked at her
and Kali fell in love
and to India she brought him.

Pasqualino marajà
a cavallo all'elefante
con in testa un gran turbante
per la giungla se ne va,

Pasqualino maharajah
riding an elephant
with a large turban on his head
through the jungle he goes,

Pasqualino marajà
non lavora e non fa niente:
fra i misteri dell'Oriente
fa il nababbo fra gli indù.
ndun-ndudu-ndunda-da
ulla-ulla-ulla-là
ulla-ulla-là

Pasqualino maharajah
does not work and does nothing:
among the mysteries of the Orient
he is a nabob among the Hindus.
ndoon-ndoodoo-ndoonda-da
oolla-oolla-oolla-là
oolla-oolla-là

Cento casse di diamanti grossi grossi
mentre principi potenti
gli s'inchinano davanti,
lui si fuma il narghilè.

One hundred cases of big big diamonds
while powerful princes
bow down before him
he smokes a hookah.

Pasqualino marajà
ha insegnato a far la pizza
tutta l'India ne va pazza
solo pizza vuol mangiar!

Pasqualino maharajah
taught to make pizza
all India goes crazy
only pizza they want to eat!

Pasqualino marajà
ha imparato a far l'indiano
e da buon napoletano
chiama tutti: "Uè, paisà!".

Pasqualino maharajah
has learned to be an Indian
and being a true Neapolitan
he calls everyone: "Hey, paisà."