La porti un bacione a Firenze [English translation]

One morning, I was about to leave on a steamboat

When a nice girl came by

She looked at me and said: excuse me, sir

I beg your pardon but...you’re from “the Flower”,1 aren’t you?

You’re glad to go back home, I can see that

And I’m asking you for a small favour

Take a big kiss back to Florence

For it is my city

And it’s always here in my heart

Take a big kiss back to Florence

I only live to see it once again

My parents are emigrants

That’s why I’m far away

I work because some day I’ll go back home

Take a big kiss back to Florence

If I’ll ever see you again, I’ll kiss you back

Nice young lady (I answered her)

I’ll take your big kiss home

And just to be sure, from now on

I will keep it locked up, during the travel

And as soon as I’ll get there, young lady, I swear

The kiss will fly to the sky, for sure

I’ll take your kiss back to Florence

Which is your city, and mine too

I’ll take your kiss back to Florence

And I’ll never, ever forget about you

Your parents are emigrants

That’s why you’re far away

But rest assured, some day you’ll get back home

I’ll take your kiss back to Florence

And from Florence many kisses you’ll get back

This story is true, and even if it wasn’t

I tell everyone it is, because

I well know the many tears and sighs 2

Of those who live far from their homeland

So every Florentine who’s away

When you’ll leave, they will softly say to you:

Take a big kiss back to Florence

It’s a long time I haven’t been there

I don’t live there, you can see that

Take a big kiss back to Florence

I can’t wait to get there again

Our small city

So graceful and cute

It’s many years old, but it’s always young

I take the big kisses to Florence

Of all the Florentines I’ve met

1. a poetic way to refer to the city, because of its symbol (a red lily).2. literally, “the coughs”.

• Artist:Odoardo Spadaro