La ballata degli annegati [English translation]

The river tells tales

as it flows swiftly to the sea

the waves quietly recount them

as poplar trees listen.

Not everyone can hear them,

you have to be weary of the world,

to throw yourself into the waters and die,

to sleep forever on the bottom.

Listen! His words of love

now in the waters are sincere,

ever since you have been sleeping down here you have been dreaming

that he never ever left you.

You need to come [to the river] in the evening

when your soul is crushed by sorrow

to hear the soft tune

of a sad, mournful song.

Who are you? "My name was Gianni,

I was swimming and I was only 20

but here I'll always be 20".

And you? "A flood swept me away

up in the headwaters, I was never found."

And you? "One evening [I was] alone,

the past was a heavy burden for me,

and the water looked so light".

Rest, forget the past,

time down here has stopped,

now you can only sleep and listen

to the tales of the river that flows to the sea.

The river tells tales

as it flows swiftly to the sea,

those who drowned listen to them

and make the wind sing them,

and make the wind sing them,

and make the wind sing them...

• Artist:Francesco Guccini
• Album:Folk Beat n.1