domenico modugno - amara terra mia

Welcome to another Italian through music post. This week's lyrics are true poetry, and the melody, vocals and arrangement are haunting and sad. Here's some grammar to watch for.

First the irregular verb andare (to go), which comes up in the chorus. Andare is a bit tough because only the noi and voi forms look anything like the infinitive (dictionary form). Here's the conjugation...

andare

io vado
tu vai / Lei va
lui / lei va
noi andiamo
voi andate
loro vanno

When used with "via" andare means "to go away." Io vado via, I'm going away. Another way to say this is "io me ne vado" (andarsene). You use the form of the reflexive pronoun that goes with the subject (mi, ti, si, ci, vi, si) and couple it with ne so it becomes me ne, te ne, se ne, ce ne, ve ne, se ne. Then add the corresponding form of andare. So me ne vado, te ne vai, se ne va, etc. This is another way to say andare via (to go away).

You also see some good noun and adjective agreements...

amara terra (feminine singular) - bitter land

cieli infiniti (masculine plural) - infinite skies

mani incallite (feminine plural: la mano, le mani) - calloused hands

un seno magro (masculine singular) - a thin breast

Let's hear the song!

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To find the dictionary form of a verb so you can look up its meaning, enter the conjugated form in the box below or check coniuga.com.

find the dictionary form of verbs
 

Sole alla valle
e sole alla collina.
Per le campagne
non c'è più nessuno.
Addio addio amore,
io vado via.
Amara terra mia
amara e bella.

Cieli infiniti
e volti come pietra.
Mani incallite ormai
senza speranza.
Addio addio amore,
io vado via.
Amara terra mia
amara e bella.

Tra gli uliveti è nata
già la luna.
Un bimbo piange, allatta
un seno magro.
Addio addio amore,
io vado via.
Amara terra mia
amara e bella.
Amara e bella.

Comments

[Joachim FRANK]

I heard this song in a German broadcast presenting
stories about the Mafia / Ndrangetta / Cosa Nostra
etc. in Italy and Germany. I find it very moving
and the singer very expressive without being
"kitschy". Only one thing I would like more: this
song without Violins, Oboe and Flute - just with
Guitar... I will look for it and - if I dont find
something like it - play it myself!