Signora Aquilone [English translation]

There was a lady, the only one I ever had,

she had small bosoms and a unspoken heart,

she had no house, neither in the sky nor on earth,

under a green tree, she sweetly lived,

under a green tree, she sweetly lived.

Attached to her hips with a thread of silver,

an old kite brought her into the wind

and she followed it without question

because the wind was a friend and the sky was great,

because the wind was a friend and the sky was great.

I told her laughing “But Signora Kite

does it not seem a bit silly this occupation of yours?”

She took my hand and said to me “Who knows,

perhaps at the end of that thread is my liberty,

perhaps at the end of that thread is my liberty.”

And so I went on and was a little wiser

with three coins of doubt and two of courage

and I met a drunkard dressed as a saint

that every night got drunk drinking his own tears,

that every night got drunk drinking his own tears.

And I got myself closer and asked him for forgiveness

but I wanted to know if his lament was good.

He told me “Brother, it is as old as God,

but it is sweeter than wine because I made it myself,

but it is sweeter than wine because I made it myself.”

And before the stars become tears

and before the tears become stars

I have written songs for all sorrows

and maybe this one is not the best,

and maybe this one is not the best.

• Artist:Francesco De Gregori
• Album:Theorius Campus (1972)