Monday, August 4, 2014

Rimini:
    Avventura a Durango
    Romance in Durango (Bob Dylan and Jacques Levy)

Peperoncini rossi nel sole cocente
polvere sul viso e sul cappello
io e Maddalena all'occidente
abbiamo aperto i nostri occhi oltre il cancello

ho dato la chitarra al figlio del fornaio
per una pizza ed un fucile
la ricomprerò lungo il sentiero
e suonerò per Maddalena all'imbrunire.

Nun chiagne Maddalena Dio ci guarderà
e presto arriveremo a Durango
Stringimi Maddalena 'sto deserto finirà
tu potrai ballare o fandango

Dopo i templi aztechi e le rovine
le prime stelle sul Rio Grande
Di notte sogno il campanile
e il collo di Ramon pieno di sangue

Sono stato proprio io all'osteria
a premere le dita sul grilletto
Vieni mia Maddalena voliamo via
il cane abbaia quel che è fatto è fatto

Nun chiagne Maddalena Dio ci guarderà
e presto arriveremo a Durango
Stringimi Maddalena 'sto deserto finirà
tu potrai ballare o fandango

Alla corrida con tequila ghiacciata
vedremo il toreador toccare il cielo
All'ombra della tribuna antica
dove Villa applaudiva il rodeo

Il frate pregherà per il perdono
ci accoglierà nella missione
Avrò stivali nuovi un orecchino d'oro
e sotto il velo tu farai la comunione

La strada è lunga ma ne vedo la fine
arriveremo per il ballo
e Dio ci apparirà sulle colline
coi suoi occhi smeraldi di ramarro

Nun chiagne Maddalena Dio ci guarderà
e presto arriveremo a Durango
Stringimi Maddalena 'sto deserto finirà
tu potrai ballare o fandango

Che cosa è il colpo che ho sentito
ho nella schiena un dolore caldo
siediti qui trattieni il fiato
forse non sono stato troppo scaltro

Svelta Maddalena prendi il mio fucile
guarda dove è partito il lampo
miralo bene cercare di colpire
potremmo non vedere più Durango

Nun chiagne Maddalena Dio ci guarderà
e presto arriveremo a Durango
Stringimi Maddalena 'sto deserto finirà
tu potrai ballare o fandango

Avventura a Durango © 1978 Fabrizio De André/Massimo Bubola based on
Romance in Durango © 1975 Ram's Horn Music; renewed 2003 by Ram’s Horn Music


During the making of Rimini, De Andrè and Bubola listened to Dylan's Desire album a lot, and De André considered it one of the best of Dylan's releases. Their translation is fairly faithful to the original; the Spanish choruses are rendered in Neapolitan dialect.

Hot chili peppers in the blistering sun,
dust on my face and my hat.
Me and Magdalena off to the west,
we’ve opened our eyes beyond the gate.

I gave my guitar to the baker’s son
for a pizza and a rifle.
I’ll buy it back along the trail
and I’ll play for Magdalena at dusk.

Don’t cry, Magdalena, God will watch over us
and soon we’ll arrive in Durango.
Hold me, Magdalena, this desert will end,
you’ll be able to dance the fandango.

After the Aztec temples and ruins,
the first star on the Rio Grande.
At night I dream of the bell-tower
and the neck of Ramon filled with blood.

Was it just me at the cantina
to squeeze the trigger?
Come, my Magdalena, let’s fly away,
the dog barks, “What’s done is done.”

Don’t cry, Magdalena, God will watch over us
and soon we’ll arrive in Durango.
Hold me, Magdalena, this desert will end,
you’ll be able to dance the fandango.

At the bullfight with ice-cold tequila
we’ll see the torero touch the sky
in the shadow of the ancient grandstand
where Villa applauded the rodeo.

The priest will pray for my pardon,
he’ll welcome us in the mission church.
I'll wear new boots and an earring of gold,
and under the veil you’ll take Communion.

The way is long but I see the end,
we’ll arrive for the dance
and God will appear there on the hill
with his lizardy emerald eyes.

Don’t cry, Magdalena, God will watch over us
and soon we’ll arrive in Durango.
Hold me, Magdalena, this desert will end,
you’ll be able to dance the fandango.

What is the blast that I heard?
I have a hot pain in my back.
Sit here, hold your breath,
maybe I wasn’t too clever.

Thin Magdalena, take my rifle,
look where the flash of light came from.
Aim at it well, try to shoot it,
we may not see Durango no more.

Don’t cry, Magdalena, God will watch over us
and soon we’ll arrive in Durango.
Hold me, Magdalena, this desert will end,
you’ll be able to dance the fandango.

English translation © 2014 Dennis Criteser



Rimini grew out of De André's disappointments with the political events of the previous couple of years. In close collaboration with Massimo Bubola, a young 24-year-old who had just released his first album, De André explored several social and political themes, including abortion, homosexuality, and how the petite bourgeoisie attempted to move into the ranks of the powerful and rise above the political and social turmoil of the times. The music has more influence from American rock and pop music than previous albums, and includes his first forays into ethnic music, which will eventually come to full fruition in his masterpiece album Crêuza de mä.
Back to Album List         Back to Song List

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for your comment and input. In order to keep the site clean, I don't post comments, but if you're interested in connecting with me I can be reached at dieselcats@email.com.