Translate Sicilian Song - Vitti Na Crozza?

[BayWhitaker 10]

Hi there

 

I run a voluntary organisation that collects oral history and memories of songs from international people who now live in Sheffield. One song we were told about is from Sicily, and I think it must be in a Sicilian Dialect, rather than normal Italian. Can anybody provide a translation for us? I've not had any luck trying to get one from the Internet.

 

 

Vitti na crozza supra nu cannuni

fui curiuso e ci vossi spiare

idda m'arrispunniu cu gran duluri

murivi senza un tocco di campani

 

si nni eru si nni eru li me anni

si nni eru si nni eru un sacciu unni

ora ca sugnu vecchio di ottantanni

chiamu la morti i idda m arrispunni

 

cunzatimi cunzatimi lu me letto

ca di li vermi su manciatu tuttu

si nun lu scuntu cca lume peccatu

lu scuntu allautra vita a chiantu ruttu

 

c'e' nu giardinu ammezu di lu mari

tuttu ntssutu di aranci e ciuri

tutti l'acceddi cci vannu a cantari

puru i sireni cci fannu all'amurio

 

Any help or suggestions much appreciated.

 

Thanks

 

Bay Whitaker

[crookes 10]

It's about someone who sees a skull sitting atop a corner cabinet and asks it what it is doing there. The skull replies that it had the misfortune of not having heard bells ringing at its death and so it's consigned to this unhappy state.

[Little Tyke 10]

Here's a translation I got from a Sicilian couple (both in their 80's). The words in brackets are a second meaning for a word in the text. They said that the language (dialect) is very old.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Trevor

 

 

 

Vitti na crozza supra nu cannuni

I saw a homeless person (skull) on top of a cannon

fui curiuso e ci vossi spiare

I was curious, and I wanted to ask

idda m'arrispunniu cu gran duluri

She answered with great pain

murivi senza un tocco di campani

she died without a ring of a bell

si nni eru si nni eru li me anni

my years, my years are gone

si nni eru si nni eru un sacciu unni

my years, my years are gone and I don't know where

ora ca sugnu vecchio di ottantanni

now that I am old at 80

chiamu la morti i idda m arrispunni

I call death and it answered me

cunzatimi cunzatimi lu me letto

make make my bed

ca di li vermi su manciatu tuttu

because the worms eat everything

si nun lu scuntu cca lume peccatu

If I don't repent in this life

lu scuntu allautra vita a chiantu ruttu

I'll repent in the next life with broken tears

 

c'e' nu giardinu ammezu di lu mari

There is a garden in the middle of the ocean (or sea)

tuttu ntssutu di aranci e ciuri

It's filled with oranges and flowers

tutti l'acceddi cci vannu a cantari

All the birds go there singing

puru i sireni cci fannu all'amurio

Even the mermaids (or sea creatures) go for the love (or love it)

[BayWhitaker 10]

Trevor, that is fantastic, I really appreciate your help with this!

 

Thank you very much.