Sunday, March 14, 2010

Dé Maddé

Parachute and standard of LivornoIf Livorno as a city needs an anthem I think this would be perfect. It is a quite popular tune from a local band called “I Licantropi” (The Werewolves) , titled “Dé Maddé”.
The song is written sometimes in “vernacolo” and there are almost insurmountable difficulties in translating slang terms, idioms and obscenities.
The author of the video “Livorno Mia” (My Livorno) is Yurpamas.
Some words in the refrain sound a bit strange even to our ears:

“dé” is an usual but quite rude insert in a conversation
“boia dé” even ruder, it is literally: hangman “dé”
“maddé” is a contraction of “ma” (but) and “dé”
“figu” is the short for “figura” as figure, character



Dé Maddé (I Licantropi)

Dé maddé boia dé maddé guarda lui lì
maddé bello, figu vieni vì.
Dé maddé boia dé maddé dici a me
invece te, ma se un ti fai mai vedè.

Dé maddé boia dé maddé look at him
maddé handsome, figu come here.
Dé maddé boia dé maddè are you asking me?
you instead, but you never come with us.


E questo non è un mantra tibetano
né un coro di preghiera musulmano
non è buddismo indiano o giapponese
ma è quello che ti dice un livornese

This is not a Tibetan mantra
neither a muslim choral prayer
nor Indian or Japanese buddhism
but what a Livornese is telling you.


Se vai nella città dei Quattro Mori
dove il libeccio spettina i signori
e giri per le strade intorno al porto
ti giuro amore un giorno ti ci porto.
A sentire...

If you come to the city of the Four Moors
where the wind ruffles well-offs' hair
wandering the streets around the port
I swear, my love, one day I'll take you there.
To hear...


Dé maddé boia dé maddé guarda lui lì
maddè bello, figu vieni vì.
Dé maddé boia dé maddé dici a me
invece te, ma se un ti fai mai vedé.

Dé maddé boia dé maddé look at him
maddé handsome, figu come here.
Dé maddé boia dé maddè are you asking me?
you instead, but you never come with us.


E questo non si dice in sinagoga
non lo dice Don Abbondio con la toga
non lo canta la tribù degli zulù
non è il sabba delle streghe né il voodoo

They don't say this in a synagogue
neither Don Abbondio with a gown
A zulu tribe doesn't sing this
This is'n a sabbath or a vodoo.


Ma se vai nella città che io amo tanto
quella col cuore tinto d'amaranto
e giri per le strade del mercato
hai visto amore poi ti c'ho portato...

But if you go in the city I love so much
the one with the purple painted heart
wandering the streets around the market
Look, love, I brought you here...


E si va nella mia città
cacciucco e baccalà, il Livorno in serie A
5 e 5 a volontà, della Izzeri e Cianciua
e der budello di tu ma', la mia la lasci sta'.

We're back to my hometown
fish stew and salt cod, Livorno in First Division
5 & 5 as you like, with Izzeri e Cianciua
your mom is a whore, and leave alone mine.


Dé maddé maddé ma boia dé
Dé maddé maddé ma boia dé

E dicono che questa è la più strana
tra tutte le città della Toscana
per via di quella Legge Livornina
che pressappoco sai cosa diceva

They say this is the stragest
of all the Tuscan towns
because of that Livornine Law
which said about this


Qualunque culto razza o religione
vieni a Livorno ti ci trovi bene
anche se sei del posto più lontano
basta però che tu non sia un pisano

Of any worship, race or persuasion
come to Livorno and you will be fine
even if you are from the farthest place
provided that you aren't a Pisan


E si va nella mia città
cacciucco e baccalà, il Livorno in serie A
del budello di tu ma’, 5 e 5 a volontà
c'è Antignano, c'è Corea, c'era la Izzeri e Cianciua
le 'atene ai portuali ed i ponci dar Civili
le pottine in baracchina, Vernacoliere fino in Cina
ci s'ha pure il grattacielo, la madonna a Montinero
e da tutta la città si alza un grido Pisa merda

Let's go to my hometown
fish stew and salt cod, we're back in Serie A
your mom is still a whore, 5 & 5 as you like,
Antignano and Corea, Izzeri e Cianciua
the chains of the dockworkers, the Civili's punches
trendy girls in Baracchina, Vernacoliere even in China
we got even a Skyscraper, the madonna of Montenero
and from all over the city a shout: Pisa shit


Dé maddé maddé ma boia dé
Dé maddé maddé ma boia dé

19 comments:

Luis Gomez said...

Good to see you and read you again!

brattcat said...

An amazing photograph from the man who lives in the town with a purple heart.

Gunn said...

Action shot and a nice You Tube film.
I enjoyed it!

Tussy said...

Great Capture!

Skywatch Friday
Sunshine Award

Lowell said...

Wow! I don't know what to say about this...fascinating, for sure. I think there are a number of local references which don't make much sense for a Floridian...

But the song does give a sense of what it means to be from Livorno...and what the city's all about (fish stew and salt cod).

What's the bit about "your mom is still a whore" - that I didn't understand.

And I did get the impression there's quite a rivalry between Livorno and Pisa. Right?

Love the photo...looks like the guy was right over your head. Better than a pigeon!

tapirgal said...

It's a nice tune, and they seem to be having quite a good time with it. I'm glad you explained, and I still don't understand half of what's going on! And what a photo! Fun post.

Hilda said...

I'm still loading the video, but the lyrics has me laughing already. Cheeky! But wow, the rivalry with Pisa is intense.

Great shot of the parachutist!

Now I'm going to watch the video…

Dina said...

Was it the great action photo that gave you the impetus to do this post?
Let us know if and when the song is voted in as your city anthem. LOL

Did you translate the lyrics? Good job, not easy!
Seeing the video I realized how familiar all the places now are to me, thanks to your blog.

Small City Scenes said...

Interesting post. great capture of the guy about to land on your head.
Now I am going to watch the video. MB

Cezar and Léia said...

I like the way Italians curse happily all over the place! :) It's got attitude!
God bless you!
Cezar

Kaori said...

Great photo! And the song? I love it! I'm proud of myself for noticing the word 'Japonesa' just by listening to the song :D

VP said...

I was quite worried that you all got a too refined idea of our city so, with the help of our Werewolves, we tried to set the record straight!

The song is obviously a joke, even if a heavy one, and I hope nobody would be offended, Pisans included.

Ilse said...

Love it! Great post. Makes me want to visit & enjoy such an amazing place.

Lowell said...

Hi VP - re your comment on The Villages DP: In central Florida where it can get rather chilly, many golf carts are decked out with these "gowns." Our little golf cart has them, too. And they work well...pull down the various sections and snap them to grommets on the side of the cart. They really do keep out the wind and rain.

Sirkka´s photo and art said...

Nice Photo

amatamari© said...

Evviva il post multimediale!!!!!!!
Troppo bello, ed io non son pisana, noooooo!!!
:-)

Andreea said...

Cool. I love it.

Unknown said...

Fantastic action shot, VP!

montelatici said...

Beh, essendo Livornese doc, natom in Via Paoli, mi piace un sacco ir tu blogge.