Funiculì Funiculà

According to musicologists this melody, lyrics by Peppino Turco, music by Luigi Denza in 1880, marked the birth of the modern Neapolitan song.

The song was made to celebrate the opening of the first Vesuvius funicular cable car (destroyed by the 1944 eruption). After the inauguration, the cable car did not have great success: the tourists continued to climb Vesuvius using mules or porters, a more romantic tradition. The song served therefore also to make a new means of transport popular, and soon became a success known all over the world.

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Aieressera, Nanninè, me ne sagliette,
tu saie addó?

Last night, Annie, I went up,
do you know where?

Addó 'stu core 'ngrato
cchiù dispiette farme nun pò!

Where this ungrateful heart
cannot make me despite any more

Addó lo fuoco coce, ma si fuje
te lassa stà!

Where the fire burns, but if you run away
it leaves you alone!

E nun te corre appriesso, nun te struje,
sulo a guardà!...

And doesn't it run after you, doesn't it consume you,
only looking at it!

Jamme, jamme, 'ncoppa, jamme ja',
Jamme, jamme, 'ncoppa, jamme ja',
funiculì, funiculà!
funiculì, funiculà!

Let's go, let's go, upward let's go
Come on, let's go, upward let's go
funiculì, funiculà!
funiculì, funiculà!

'ncoppa jamme ja,
funiculì, funiculà!

Upward let's go, let's go,
funiculì, funiculà!

Jammo, jammo, 'ncoppa, jammo ja',
Jammo, jammo, 'ncoppa, jammo ja',
funiculì, funiculà!
funiculì, funiculà!

Let's go, let's go, upward let's go
Come on, let's go, upward let's go
funiculì, funiculà!
funiculì, funiculà!

'ncoppa jamme ja,
funiculì, funiculà!

Upward let's go, let's go,
funiculì, funiculà!

Se n'è sagliuta, oi Nè,
se n'è sagliuta
la capa già!

My head went up,
Annie, went up
my head already!

È gghiuta, po' è turnata,
po' è venuta...
sta sempe 'ccà!

It went, then came back,
then came...
it is always here!

La capa vota, vota, attuorno, attuorno,
attuorno a tte!
attuorno a tte!

The head turns, turns, around, around,
around you!
around you!

Sto core canta sempe nu taluorno
Sposammo, oi Nè!
Sposammo, oi Nè!

This heart is always singing one song
Let's marry, Annie!
Let's marry, Annie!

Jammo, jammo, 'ncoppa, jammo ja',
Jammo, jammo, 'ncoppa, jammo ja',
funiculì, funiculà!
funiculì, funiculà!

Let's go, let's go, upward let's go
Come on, let's go, upward let's go
funiculì, funiculà!
funiculì, funiculà!

'ncoppa jamme ja,
funiculì, funiculà!

Upward let's go, let's go,
funiculì, funiculà!

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