Volume I: Via del Campo

Via del Campo c’è una graziosa gli occhi grandi color di foglia tutta notte sta sulla soglia vende a tutti la stessa rosa. Via del Campo c’è una bambina con le labbra color rugiada gli occhi grigi come la strada nascon fiori dove cammina. Via del Campo c’è una puttana gli occhi grandi color di foglia se di amarla ti vien la voglia basta prenderla per la mano e ti sembra di andar lontano lei ti guarda con un sorriso non credevi che il paradiso fosse solo lì al primo piano. Via del Campo ci va un illuso a pregarla di maritare a vederla salir le scale fino a quando il balcone è chiuso. Ama e ridi se amor risponde piangi forte se non ti sente dai diamanti non nasce niente dal letame nascono i fior... dai diamanti non nasce niente dal letame nascono i fior... Via del Campo © 1967 Fabrizio De André/Enzo Jannacci "Via del Campo" is perhaps one of De André's best loved songs. Via del Campo is one of the narrow alleys of the ancient center of Genoa, close to the port. With its mix of smugglers, thieves, prostitutes and many others living on the margins of society, in sharp contrast to the upper-middle class life De André was raised in, it represented to him a way of life more honest, real and intense. De André spent much time in this part of Genoa during his university years, and he lived there for a while. The song itself was inspired by a transvestite (commonly called "una graziosa") who plied his wares as a beautiful blonde named Josèphine. In 1972, photographer Lisetta Carmi published a book on the transvestites of Genova, I travestiti. The music for the song was first described as being from the 16th century. In fact the music, shown to De André by Enzo Jannacci, was a piece Jannacci had written and already used for one of his own songs, "La mia morosa la va alla fonte." As a joke, Jannacci had presented the song to De André as one with medieval origins.

Via del Campo, there’s a young lovely with great big leaf-colored eyes. All night long she stands in the doorway selling to everyone the very same rose. Via del Campo, there’s a young girl with lips the color of dew, her eyes grey like the street - flowers rise up where she walks. Via del Campo, there’s a whore with great big leaf-colored eyes. If the desire to love her comes to you, it’s enough to just take her by the hand. And it seems like you're going far away, she looks at you with a smile. You didn’t believe that paradise would be just up there on the second floor. Via del Campo, a fool goes there to beg her to marry, to see her go up the stairs until the balcony door is closed. Love and laugh if love responds, cry hard if it doesn’t hear you. From diamonds nothing is born, from manure, flowers arise . . . From diamonds nothing is born, from manure, flowers arise . . . English translation © 2014 Dennis Criteser Volume I is De André’s first full studio album, released in 1967 on the Bluebell label. It was produced by Gian Piero Reverberi and Andrea Malcotti. Reverberi shares writing credits on the music of six of the songs.

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