Nella mia ora di libertà [English translation]

Breathing the same air

a prison guard breathes, I don't like it,

therefore I decided to renounce

my out-of-cell time.

If something must be shared

between a prisoner and his guard,

I don't want it to be the air of the courtyard

The only thing I want to share is jail time.

I don't want it to be the air of the courtyard

The only thing I want to share is jail time

It started and was over

in just an hour.

I saw people walking out alone

and then walking back together.

I didn't expect a mistake from you,

men and women of the courthouse.

Had I been in your place...

but I'm not able to be in your place.

Had I been in your place...

but I'm not able to be in your place.

Out of the courtroom, on the road

in general outside, also out of there

I asked my face to put on its best

argumentative dignity.

So much grit, snigger, frowning

how can you explain them it's spring?

They do know that, but they prefer

to see spring taken away from those who are sent to prison.

They do know that, but they prefer

to see spring taken away from those who are sent to prison.

So much grit, snigger, frowning

so few faces and she is one of them.

She's asking herself so many questions at the same time.

I'm certain she's rehearsing

what she's going to tell people about me.

I can tell you what she's going to say:

"There was something different about him,

but not the way he told me he loved me.

There was something different about him,

but not the way he told me he loved me."

Surely, it's a big change of mindset

between obedience training

and actions worth of a human being

that show what violence truly is,

but an equally big change of mindset is needed

to become such a moron

that you can't see anymore

that no power is ever good

that you can't see anymore

that no power is ever good.

Now I'm learning a lot of things

from people dressed like me

but I haven't learned what crime you can commit

without being considered a criminal.

They taught us to be astonished

when people steal bread

now we know that the true crime is

not stealing when you're hungry,

now we know that the true crime is

not stealing when you're hungry.

Breathing the same air

prison guards breathe, we don't like it.

So we put them in prison

during the out-of-cell time.

Come to the prison, now,

stand at the door and listen to

our latest song

that tells you you one more time:

"No matter if you feel you have been absolved

you were implicated, and you always will be.

No matter if you feel you have been absolved

you were implicated, and you always will be."

• Artist:Fabrizio De André
• Album:Storia di un impiegato (1973)