Canzoni: Delitto di paese - Small Town Crime (Brassens)

Non tutti nella capitale sbocciano i fiori del male, qualche assassinio senza pretese lo abbiamo anche noi in paese. Qualche assassinio senza pretese lo abbiamo anche noi qui in paese. Aveva il capo tutto bianco ma il cuore non ancor stanco gli ritornò a battere in fretta per una giovinetta. Gli ritornò a battere in fretta per una giovinetta. Ma la sua voglia troppo viva subito gli esauriva, in quattro baci e una carezza l'ultima giovinezza. In quattro baci e una carezza l'ultima giovinezza. Quando la mano lei gli tese triste lui le rispose, d'essere povero in bolletta lei si rivestì in fretta. D'essere povero in bolletta lei si rivestì in fretta. E andò a cercare il suo compagno partecipe del guadagno e ritornò col protettore dal vecchio truffatore. E ritornò col protettore dal vecchio truffatore. Mentre lui fermo lo teneva sei volte lo accoltellava dicon che quando lui spirò la lingua lei gli mostrò. Dicon che quando lui spirò la lingua lei gli mostrò. Misero tutto sotto sopra senza trovare un soldo ma solo un mucchio di cambiali e di atti giudiziari. Ma solo un mucchio di cambiali e di atti giudiziari. Allora presi dallo sconforto e dal rimpianto del morto, si inginocchiaron sul poveruomo chiedendogli perdono. Si inginocchiaron sul poveruomo chiedendogli perdono. Quando i gendarmi sono entrati piangenti li han trovati fu qualche lacrima sul viso a dargli il paradiso. Fu qualche lacrima sul viso a dargli il paradiso. E quando furono impiccati volarono fra i beati qualche beghino di questo fatto fu poco soddisfatto. Qualche beghino di questo fatto fu poco soddisfatto. Non tutti nella capitale sbocciano i fiori del male, qualche assassinio senza pretese lo abbiamo anche noi in paese. Qualche assassinio senza pretese lo abbiamo anche noi qui in paese. Text of Delitto di paese © 1965 Fabrizio De André based on L'assassinat © 1962 George Brassens "Delitto di paese" is a mostly faithful translation of "L'assassinat" by Georges Brassens, with only a few small changes (notably there's a reference to Baudelaire with De André's change to "flowers of evil," the title of an early volume of poetry by the French writer). This was the first of many translations De André would do of songs by Brassens, who was a major influence on De André both for his music and for his political and philosophical points of view. Both men considered compassion and forgiveness the most powerful human forces for good, reflected in this song by the killers' admittance to Heaven after they genuinely shed tears of remorse for their crime.

Not only in the capital do flowers of evil bloom. Some modest killing even we have in the village. Some modest killing even we have here in the village. His head was all white but his heart, still not tired, returned to him to throb fast for a young girl. It returned to him to throb fast for a young girl. But his desire, too lively, quickly exhausted in four kisses and a caress his final youthfulness. In four kisses and a caress, his final youthfulness. When his hand she held, he responded to her, sad for being poor, flat broke. She got back dressed in a hurry. For being poor, flat broke, she got back dressed in a hurry. And she went in search of her companion, sharer in the earnings, and returned with a protector to the old trickster's place. And she returned with a protector to the old trickster's place. While he, standing, held him, she stabbed him six times. They say when he spent his last breath she showed him the tongue. They say when he spent his last breath she showed her companion the tongue. They turned the place upside down without finding a penny, only but a pile of bills and court judgments. Only but a pile of bills and court judgments. Then, taken by the discomfort and regret of death, they got down on their knees by the poor fellow, asking him for pardon. They got down on their knees by the poor fellow asking him for pardon. When the gendarmes entered they found them crying. Some tears were on their faces to give them heaven. Some tears were on their faces to give them heaven. And when they were hung they flew among the blessed. Of this fact a few bigots were little satisfied. Of this fact a few bigots were little satisfied. Not only in the capital do flowers of evil bloom. Some modest killing even we have in the village. Some modest killing even we have here in the village. English translation © 2014 Dennis Criteser Canzoni, released in 1974, was a "filler" album, like Volume III, desired by De André's label. The only three previously unreleased songs here are covers of Dylan's "Desolation Row" and of two songs by Georges Brassens. Also included are two covers of Leonard Cohen songs.

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