Monday, June 9, 2014

Canzoni:
   Fila la lana - Spin the Wool

Nella guerra di Valois
il Signor di Vly è morto,
se sia stato un prode eroe
non si sa, non è ancor certo.

Ma la dama abbandonata
lamentando la sua morte
per mill'anni e forse ancora
piangerà la triste sorte.

Fila la lana, fila i tuoi giorni
illuditi ancora che lui ritorni,
libro di dolci sogni d'amore
apri le pagine sul suo dolore.

Son tornati a cento e a mille
i guerrieri di Valois,
son tornati alle famiglie,
ai palazzi alle città.

Ma la dama abbandonata
non ritroverà il suo amore
e il gran ceppo nel camino
non varrà a scaldarle il cuore.

Fila la lana, fila i tuoi giorni
illuditi ancora che lui ritorni,
libro di dolci sogni d'amore
apri le pagine al suo dolore.

Cavalieri che in battaglia
ignorate la paura
stretta sia la vostra maglia,
ben temprata l'armatura.

Al nemico che vi assalta
siate presti a dar risposta
perché dietro a quelle mura
vi s'attende senza sosta.

Fila la lana, fila i tuoi giorni
illuditi ancora che lui ritorni,
libro di dolci sogni d'amore
chiudi le pagine sul suo dolore.

Fila la lana © 1965 Fabrizio De André

"Fila la lana" was presented as a translation of a popular medieval French song from the 15th century. In fact the French source song was "File la laine" composed by Robert Marcy in 1948, popularized by Jacque Douai in 1955. The War of Valois in De André's version is better known as the War of the Breton Succession (1341-1364). The original French version speaks of the "Monsieur of Malbrough" which refers to a 1709 battle in the War of the Spanish Succession depicted in one of the most famous of French folk songs, "Marlbrough s'en va-t-en guerre."

In the War of Valois
the Seignior of Vly died.
Whether he was a valiant hero
is unknown, it’s still not certain.

But the woman left abandoned
lamenting his death,
for a thousand years, maybe more,
will mourn his sad destiny.

Spin the wool, spin your days,
keep fooling yourself that he might return.
Book of sweet dreams of love -
open the pages to its sorrow.

They returned by the hundreds and by the thousands,
the warriors of Valois.
They returned to their families,
to their palaces, to their cities.

But the abandoned woman
won’t find her love again,
and the big log in the fireplace
will be worthless for warming her heart.

Spin the wool, spin your days,
keep fooling yourself that he might return.
Book of sweet dreams of love -
open the pages to its sorrow.

Knights who in battle
ignore the fear,
may your chain mail be tight,
your armor well-tempered.

To the enemy who assaults you
be ready to give riposte,
because behind those walls
you’re awaited without cease.

Spin the wool, spin your days,
keep fooling yourself that he might return.
Book of sweet dreams of love -
close the pages on its sorrow.

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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