Rimini: Parlando del naufragio della London Valour Speaking of the Shipwreck of the London Valour

I marinai foglie di coca digeriscono in coperta il capitano ha un'amore al collo venuto apposta dall'Inghilterra il pasticcere di via Roma sta scendendo le scale ogni dozzina di gradini trova una mano da pestare ha una frusta giocattolo sotto l'abito da tè. E la radio di bordo è una sfera di cristallo dice che il vento si farà lupo il mare si farà sciacallo il paralitico tiene in tasca un uccellino blu cobalto ride con gli occhi al circo Togni quando l'acrobata sbaglia il salto. E le ancore hanno perduto la scommessa e gli artigli i marinai uova di gabbiano piovono sugli scogli il poeta metodista ha spine di rosa nelle zampe per far pace con gli applausi per sentirsi più distante la sua stella si è oscurata da quando ha vinto la gara del sollevamento pesi. E con uno schiocco di lingua parte il cavo dalla riva ruba l'amore del capitano attorcigliandole la vita il macellaio mani di seta si è dato un nome da battaglia tiene fasciate dentro il frigo nove mascelle antiguerriglia ha un grembiule antiproiettile tra il giornale e il gilè. E il pasticciere e il poeta e il paralitico e la sua coperta si ritrovarono sul molo con sorrisi da cruciverba a sorseggiarsi il capitano che si sparava negli occhi e il pomeriggio a dimenticarlo con le sue pipe e i suoi scacchi e si fiutarono compatti nei sottintesi e nelle azioni contro ogni sorta di naufragi o di altre rivoluzioni e il macellaio mani di seta distribuì le munizioni. Parlando del naufragio della London Valour © 1978 Fabrizio De André/Massimo Bubola The shipwreck of the London Valour was an actual event that took place in Genoa in 1970. But the focus in this song is on the people who came out to the Genoa docks to rubber neck and watch the unfolding tragedy in morbid fascination. The lyrics are somewhat obtuse, with many possible references to political events and cultural figures from Italy's Years of Lead, (the late 1960's to the early 1980's), which were marked by tremendous social upheaval and terrorism.

The seamen are digesting coca leaves on deck, the captain has a lover ‘round his neck, just in from England. The confectioner of Via Roma is descending the stairs, every dozen steps he finds a hand to step on. He has a toy whip under his tea coat. And the radio on board is a crystal sphere, it says the wind will becomee a wolf, the sea will become a jackal. The paraplegic holds in his pocket a little bird, cobalt blue. He laughs with his eyes, at the Togni Circus, when the acrobat fails his leap. And the anchors lost the bet and their hold, the seamen, seagull eggs, rained on the rocks. The Methodist poet has rose thorns in his paws to make peace with the acclaim, to feel more distant, his star eclipsed ever since he won the weightlifting contest. And with a tongue click, the cable parts from the bank, steals the captain’s lover, entangling her waist. The butcher, hands of silk, gave himself a battle name. He keeps, swaddled inside the refrigerator, nine antiwar jawbones. He has a bulletproof apron between his newspaper and his vest. And the confectioner and the poet and the paraplegic and his blanket met again on the dock, with crossword puzzle smiles, to nurse like a drink the captain who shot himself in the eyes, and by afternoon to forget him with his pipes and his chessmen, and they smelled secret agreements in the innuendos and in the actions against every kind of shipwreck or other revolutions. And the butcher, hands of silk, handed out the munitions. English translation © 2014 Dennis Criteser Rimini grew out of De André's disappointments with the political events of the previous couple of years. In close collaboration with Massimo Bubola, a young 24-year-old who had just released his first album, De André explored several social and political themes, including abortion, homosexuality, and how the petite bourgeoisie attempted to move into the ranks of the powerful and rise above the political and social turmoil of the times. The music has more influence from American rock and pop music than previous albums, and includes his first forays into ethnic music, which will eventually come to full fruition in his masterpiece album Crêuza de mä.

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