Volume III: La ballata del Michè - The Ballad of Mike

Quando hanno aperto la cella era già tardi perché con una corda al collo freddo pendeva Michè Tutte le volte che un gallo sento cantar penserò a quella notte in prigione quando Michè s'impiccò Stanotte Michè s'è impiccato a un chiodo perché non poteva restare vent'anni in prigione lontano da te Nel buio Michè se n'è andato sapendo che a te non poteva mai dire che aveva ammazzato perchè amava te Io so che Michè ha voluto morire perché ti restasse il ricordo del bene profondo che aveva per te Vent'anni gli avevano dato la corte decise così perché un giorno aveva ammazzato chi voleva rubargli Marì L'avevan perciò condannato vent'anni in prigione a marcir però adesso che lui s'è impiccato la porta gli devono aprir Se pure Michè non ti ha scritto spiegando perché se n'è andato dal mondo tu sai che l' ha fatto soltanto per te Domani alle tre nella fossa comune sarà senza il prete e la messa perché d'un suicida non hanno pietà Domani alle tre nella terra bagnata sarà e qualcuno una croce col nome la data su lui pianterà E qualcuno una croce col nome e la data su lui pianterà. La ballata del Michè © 1961 Fabrizio De André and Clielia Petracchi "La ballata del Michè," released in 1961, was the first song De André claimed as his own (the first two De André songs released by Karim he wrote off as "abortions" and "sins of youth"). He often said that the success of the song was enough to prevent him from giving up on his songwriting career and instead becoming a criminal lawyer. The song was inspired by an actual news event, and includes a number of elements common to De André songs: a tolerance, understanding and respect of the common man and his circumstances, along with a critique of both the law and the church for certain of their hard-line and merciless principles.

When they opened the cell it was already late because with a cord ‘round his neck there hung Mike, all cold. Every time I hear a rooster crowing, I’ll think of that night in prison when Mike hanged himself. Tonight Mike hanged himself from a nail because he couldn't remain twenty years in prison far away from you. In the darkness Mike went off knowing he could never tell you that he had murdered because he loved you. I know that Mike wanted to die so that the memory of the deep feeling he had for you would remain behind with you. Twenty years they had given him. The court decided it so because one day he’d killed someone who wanted to steal his Marie. They had him condemned therefore, twenty years in prison to rot away. But now that he hanged himself they have to open the door for him. Even if Mike didn’t write you explaining why he left this world, you know that he did it only for you. Tomorrow at three o’clock he'll fall into the common grave, without a priest and the mass, because for a suicide they have no pity. Tomorrow at three o'clock he'll be in the wet ground and someone will plant a cross over him with the name and the date. And someone will plant a cross over him with the name and the date. English translation © 2014 Dennis Criteser Volume III, released in 1968 just three months after the release of Tutti morimmo a stento, included four new songs along with re-recorded versions of other songs released previously as singles. The new songs weren't originals, however: two translations of Georges Brassens songs, a 13th century Italian sonnet set to music, and a traditional 14th century French song. The lack of originals and the timing of the release points to the fact that De André's label wanted to release something on the heels of the huge success of the Mina cover of "Marinella" that was released at the end of 1967. Volume III had strong sales for two years following its release.

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