Rumore di niente [English translation]

Did you really believe

we would have spoken Esperanto?

Did you really believe it

or did you just hope so?

But what time1 is this

and what electricity

But what time is this

and what time will come

What will the weather be?

Can't you hear thunder?

Can't you hear thunder yet?

Can't you hear that sound?

It's far away but it seems to be drawing nearer

this music we have already heard.

Dad, there's a killer, don't let him knock at the door.

Dad, there's a fortune teller, don't let him speak.

Dad, there's a plasterer decked out in new clothes

there's the skin of an old snake

that was just hatched

and there's a loud noise of nothing

a loud noise of nothing.

Did you really believe

we would have spoken about love?

Did you really believe it

or did you just hope so in your heart?

Today, eyes shout to eyes

and mouths sit and watch

and ears see nothing

between Babel and the global village.

Dad, there's a killer, don't let him knock at the door.

Dad, there's a fortune teller, don't let him speak.

Dad, there's a plasterer decked out in new clothes,

there's the skin of an old snake

that was just hatched

and there's a loud noise of nothing

a loud noise of nothing.

1. "tempo" means both "time" and "weather"

• Artist:Francesco De Gregori
• Album:Canzoni d'amore (1992)