Comme facette mammeta

The song was composed in 1906 by Salvatore Gambardella on lyrics by Giuseppe Capaldo, a waiter by trade, inspired by the unrequited love he felt for a lady.

Capaldo himself sent this song to the committee that organizes the Feast of the Madonna del Carmine in Naples, and it was considered the best. It came second at the Piedigrotta Festival that year, sung by Antonietta Rispoli at the Eldorado Theater, and later became Elvira Donnarumma's signature song. There have been countless covers over the years, as it was recorded and interpreted by many singers, mostly Neapolitans, as well as a 1960 rock'n'roll version of "I Due Corsari", a duo composed by Enzo Jannacci and Giorgio Gaber.

Quanno mammeta t'ha fatta,
quanno mammeta t'ha fatta...
Vuo' sape' comme facette?
vuo' sape' comme facette?

When your mother made you,
when your mother made you...
Wanna know how she did it?
wanna know how she did it?

Pe' 'mpasta' sti ccarne belle,
pe' 'mpasta' sti ccarne belle...
Tutto chello ca mettette?
tutto chello ca mettette?...

To knead this fine flesh,
to knead this fine flesh...
All that she put in?
all that she put in?

Ciento rose 'ncappucciate,
dint''a mártula mmescate...
Latte, rose, rose e latte,
te facette 'ncopp''o fatto!...

One hundred hooded roses,
mixed inside the bag...
Milk, roses, roses, milk,
she made you on the spot!

Nun c'è bisogno 'a zingara
p'andivina', Cunce'...
Comme t'ha fatto mammeta,
'o ssaccio meglio 'e te!...

There's no need for a gypsy
to guess that, Concetta...
How your mother made you,
I know better than you!

E pe' fa' 'sta vocca bella,
e pe' fa' 'sta vocca bella
Nun servette 'a stessa dose,
nun servette 'a stessa dose

And to make this fine mouth,
and to make this fine mouth
The same doses were not enough,
the same doses were not enough

Vuo' sape' che nce mettette?
vuo' sape' che nce mettette?
Mo te dico tuttecosa
mo te dico tuttecosa:

Wanna know what she put in?
wanna know what she put in?
Now I'll tell you everything,
now I'll tell you everything:

Nu panaro chino, chino,
tutt' 'e fravule 'e ciardino
Mèle, zuccaro e cannella:
te 'mpastaje 'sta vocca bella
Nun c'è bisogno 'a zingara [...]

A basket all full
of all the garden strawberries
Honey, sugar and cinnamon:
she kneaded this fine mouth
There's no need for a gypsy [...]

E pe' fa' sti ttrezze d'oro,
e pe' fa' sti ttrezze d'oro
Mamma toja s'appezzentette,
mamma toja s'appezzentette

And to make these golden braids,
and to make these golden braids
Your mother became poor,
your mother became poor

Bella mia, tu qua' muneta!?
bella mia, tu qua' muneta!?
Vuo' sape' che nce servette?
vuo' sape' che nce servette?

My beauty, what money!?
My beauty, what money!?
Wanna know, that was needed?
wanna know, that was needed?

Na miniera sana sana,
tutta fatta a filagrana,
'nce vulette pe' sti ttrezze,
che a vasa' nun ce sta prezzo!
Nun c'è bisogno 'a zingara [...]

A whole gold mine,
all made in filigree,
was needed for these braids,
that to kiss there's no price!
There's no need for a gypsy [...]

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