La valigia dell'attore [English translation]

Here I am

I've come to see

the strange effect

of my face in your eyes

and how many people are there

and whether any money will be spent this evening

for this voice that should reach

the last line of chairs

beyond the darkness

and beyond the silence that is slowly setting down

and beyond this light that cuts my face.

And suddenly, here I am.

We are the lover and the bride,

we have arrived here,

the actor and the café-chantant diva

and we'd do anything

to stay here.

We are the father and the daughter,

we have arrived here,

we are a large family,

we have left for a moment

our suitcase over there

in the dressing room that's already old

between the sink and a bucket

between the playbill and the mirror,

between the playbill and the mirror.

Here we are.

We have come for little money 1

because for little money we move

and the curtain has already been lowered

on this life that's not very clean

that reminds us of the colour of the sheets

of some hotels

where they already know our names

and they don't even ask

for our ID anymore.

So, here we are

we have come for nothing

because for nothing we move

and we bow several times

and we thank you a thousand times.

Here we are.

We are the father and the daughter,

we have arrived here by chance,

we are a large family

we have left for a moment

our life over there

in the dressing room that's already old

between the sink and a bucket

between the playbill and the mirror,

between the playbill and the mirror.

1. also: for a short time

• Artist:Francesco De Gregori
• Album:La valigia dell’attore (1997)