Ragazzo mio [English translation]

My son,

one day you will hear that your father

had great ideas but in the end, as a result,

he accomplished nothing.

Don't believe it, no—

they want to make you

a small man,

a boat without a sail.

But don't believe it, no, no—

since as soon as the seas get rough,

it is the men without ideas

who sink first to the bottom.

My son,

one day your friends will tell you

that it is enough to find a great love,

and then turn your back on the entire world.

No, no, don't believe it, no—

don't let yourself dream

of faraway islands

that do not exist.

Don't believe it, no, no—

if you want to love being in love,

you should not ask of love

that which it can never give.

My son,

one day people will tell you

that the only ones succeeding

are those who spend their lives doing nothing.

No, no, don't believe it, no—

just become the one

who grasps at clouds

and dreams of succeeding.

No, no, don't believe it, no,no—

don't resent those who

live struggling futilely

with the world of tomorrow.

• Artist:Nicola Di Bari
• Album:Nicola Di Bari canta Luigi Tenco (1971)