Eh Cumpari, ci vo sunari?
Chi si sona? U friscalettu
E comu si sona u friscalettu?
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà

Eh cumpari, ci vo sunari
Chi si sona? U saxifona
E comu si sona u saxifona?
Tu tu tu tu u saxifona
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà

Eh cumpari, ci vo sunari?
Chi si sona? U mandolinu
E comu si sona u mandolinu?
A pling a pling, u mandulin
Tu tu tu tu u saxifona
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà

Eh cumpari, ci vo sunari?
Chi si sona? U viulinu
E comu si sona u viulinu?
A zing a zing, u viulin
A pling a pling, u mandulin
Tu tu tu tu u saxifona
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà

Eh cumpari, ci vo sunari?
Chi si sona? A la trumbetta
Ma comu si sona a la trumbetta?
Papapapa a la trumbetta
A zing a zing, u viulin
A pling a pling, u mandulin
Tu tu tu tu u saxifona
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà

Eh compari, ci vo sunari?
Chi si sona? A la trambona
Ma comu si sona a la trambona
A fumma a fumma a la trambona
Pa pa, pa pa, pa la trumbetta
A zing a zing, u viulin
A pling a pling, u mandulin
Tu tu tu tu u saxifona
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà

Tipiti tipiti
Tipiti tipiti tà

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Archie Bleyer, Julius Larosa

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Rory Ridge

4y↑67

Eh Cumpari, ci vo sunari
Chi si sona? Un friscalettu
E comu si sona you friscalettu?
You friscalette, tipiti tipiti tam

E cumpari, ci vo sunari
Chi si sona? You saxofona
E comu si sona you saxofona?
Tu tu tu tu you saxofona
You friscalette, tipiti tipiti tam

E cumpari, ci vo sunari
Chi si sona? You mandolinu
E comu si sona you mandolinu?
A pling a pling, you mandulin
Tu tu tu tu you saxofona
You friscalette, tipiti tipiti tam

E cumpari, ci vo sunari?
Chi si sona? You viulinu
E comu si sona you viulinu?
A zing a zing, you viulin
A pling a pling, you mandulin
Tu tu tu tu you saxofona
You friscalette, tipiti tipiti tam

E cumpari, ci vo sunari?
Chi si sona? A la trumbetta
Ma comu si sona a la trumbetta?
Papapapa a la trumbetta
A zing a zing, you viulin
A pling a pling, you mandulin
Tu tu tu tu you saxofona
You friscalette, tipiti tipiti tam

E compari, ci vo sunari?
Chi si sona? A la trombona
Ma comu si sona a la trombona
A fumma a fumma a la trombona
Pa-pa pa-pa pa la trumbetta
A zing a zing, you viulin
A pling a pling, you mandulin
Tu tu tu tu you saxofona
You friscalette, tipiti tipiti tam

Tipiti tipiti
Tipiti tipiti tam

1959qwertyui

Hey,buy?...are you calling?
Eh Cumpari, ci vo sunari?

Who sounds
Chi si sona?

The jingle
U friscalettu

And how's the jingle sounding?
E comu si sona u friscalettu?

The jingle and the little guys are here
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà
Hey,buy?...are you calling?
Eh cumpari, ci vo sunari

Who sounds
Chi si sona?

And saxophone
U saxifona

And how does the saxophone sound?
E comu si sona u saxifona?

Tu tu tu tu u saxifone
Tu tu tu tu u saxifona

The friscalett and the little guys are here
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà
Hey, are you calling?
Eh cumpari, ci vo sunari?

Who sounds
Chi si sona?

The mandolin
U mandolinu

And how does the mandolin sound?
E comu si sona u mandolinu?

A pling a pling, the mandulin
A pling a pling, u mandulin

Tu tu tu tu u saxifone
Tu tu tu tu u saxifona

The friscalett and the little guys are here
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà
Hey, are you calling?
Eh cumpari, ci vo sunari?

Who sounds
Chi si sona?

The violin
U viulinu

And how does the violin sound?
E comu si sona u viulinu?

A zing a zing, the viulin
A zing a zing, u viulin

A pling a pling, the mandulin
A pling a pling, u mandulin

Tu tu tu tu u saxifone
Tu tu tu tu u saxifona

The friscalett and the little guys are here
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà
Hey, are you calling?
Eh cumpari, ci vo sunari?

Who sounds
Chi si sona?

At the trumpet
A la trumbetta

But how about the trumpet?
Ma comu si sona a la trumbetta?

Papapapa on the trumpet
Papapapa a la trumbetta

A zing a zing, the viulin
A zing a zing, u viulin

A pling a pling, the mandulin
A pling a pling, u mandulin

Tu tu tu tu u saxifone
Tu tu tu tu u saxifona

The friscalett and the little guys are here
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà
Eh compare, are you calling?
Eh compari, ci vo sunari?

Who sounds
Chi si sona?

In the trombone
A la trambona

But like the trumpet
Ma comu si sona a la trambona

Smoke to smoke on the tram
A fumma a fumma a la trambona

Not by, by not, by la trumbetta
Pa pa, pa pa, pa la trumbetta

A zing a zing, the viulin
A zing a zing, u viulin

A pling a pling, the mandulin
A pling a pling, u mandulin

Tu tu tu tu u saxifone
Tu tu tu tu u saxifona

The friscalett and the little guys are here
U friscalett e tipiti tipiti tà
Tiny tyrants
Tipiti tipiti

Tiny little guys
Tipiti tipiti tà

elle2125

All comments from YouTube:

Frank7681

10y↑114

Oh I remember signing that song at my great grandmother 100th anniversary with all the orchestra. I was 5 years old and didn't know all the lyrics haha, i'm 15 now and she passed away in 2008 at the age of 106. This song sure bring back lots of memories. A very great song R.I.P Nonna Sorry for my english

Gaetano

10w

Song was on my grandparents 50th anniversary video, he unfortunately died the next month. Love you Nonno

Jack Wolf

34w

So sorry for your loss. May you find happiness and better times in the future.

Fr0sty25 Tyler

46w

@Zom_G bj

Jerry Martinelli

Your English is fine. So sorry for your loss friend!

Miles Caredio

2y↑5

Crazy that she was 106, sorry for your loss. also crazy that you're 22 now. my grandma died in 2012 and used to love ave maria and it was played at her funeral...

1 More Replies...

Throren

8y↑106

I love how he even almost laughs during the last whistling bit xD

Sabrina Renwick

16w

I love that too!

Logo Quiz

7y↑33

I'm half Italian and this is the first song I learned with Italian words. My Mom, Aunt and Grandma. even gave me little hand signals for each of the instruments. Today my Mom is almost 95 and in late stages dementia and she still remembers all the words and will sing it with me and Julius La Rosa on YouTube.

cenzi6

40w↑1

this is in top 5 things I've ever read on the internet, ever.

wntr i am

@vaxiawval I grew up with a Corsican mother and a Sicilian father, don't tell me where I am from, I speak my regional dialect as well as 3 other languages, unless you have lived where I am from do not explain to me what MY dialect and slang is, minchione.

Vinz Clortho

I wish I could say such a nice story but I learned the dirty words and dirtier songs first. 😁 Can you perhaps stop the argument and just enjoy the song?

4 More Replies...

Brandon Bar

7y↑50

this was a song my grandfather made spaghetti and meatballs to and he was Italian and had alot of pride of our heritage and he could never whistle and sadly 3 years ago he died in the line of duty as a firefighter being struck by a motor veichel in Maryland and now everytime i make meatballs i sing with this song and cry a little. so thank you Julius La Rosa for being apart of this wonderful family tradition.

Giuseppe Alicò

@Giacomo Pasquali most of the immigrants in the 30s,40s, 50s were poor and invented some dish in the USA like spaghetti with meatballs for example. We don't eat it in italy nowadays but at that time they were popular in America for italian/sicilian immigrants.

Giacomo Pasquali

27w↑2

In Italy we don't eat spaghetti with meatballs

david fyre

4y↑1

Frank Russo. Hello from Bagheria Sicily. I will write this one in English. I am a Washington DC Siciliano. Born and raised in DC. Grew up in Little Italy, Belmont Heights in NW, DC.

Frank Russo

5y↑1

Ditto! Baltimore sicilianos!

allboydogs

5y↑1

Brandon Bar nice story I live in Baltimore

Nick M

4y↑2

Reminds me of when my older aunt would blast this cd in the car at her house while all of us were outside and she would start to dance to it and we would all clap along.. good times

Dianne Peterson

10y↑3

My parents used to sing this song to me when I was a little girl! Love it! So happy to find it here on Youtube!

rockergod789

8y↑144

it's family tradition that we sing this song at christmas while drunk!

Abby Marie

47w

♥️♥️♥️

The2firebirds

2y↑3

That sounds like so much fun.

Zizo Gh.

3y↑3

Love it

Tommy Yates

3y↑3

That’s awesome!

MrKristofeur

3y↑3

exellent

1 More Replies...

valeriesara

6y↑41

RIP to this great family man and entertainer. Brings me back to the days of my Mum and especially my Dad who loved Julus La Rosa.

Emily King

Fun fact he is my great uncle!!!!

valeriesara

6y↑1

+Stephen Didovich Great artist!

Stephen Didovich

6y↑1

+valeriesara he was a lovely man

Jason Phillips

4y↑3

My first record when I was 3 still have it 45 years later .

MrErsamo

6y↑8

I absolutely loved this song growing up. My cousin had the record and whenever I went to visit him and his parents I played it non-stop until it was time to leave. My parents were smart enough not to buy a copy for in order to keep their sanity.

TheCrispyTwinkies

1y↑5

After 20 years I finally found it!!! I was 5 years old when I’d always listen to this song. My parents had a Italian mix cassette tape that’d they play in the car when we’d go onto trips. I’d literally give them hell by telling them “can we listen to ‘toot toot, toot toot’ again??” From all the songs that would play Lmaoo. Omg this is great!

sauquoit13456

3y↑1

On this day in 1953 {November 1st} "Eh, Cumpari!" by Julius La Rosa peaked at #2 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Best Sellers in Stores chart, the week it was at #2, the #1 record for that week was "Vaya Con Dios" by Les Paul and Mary Ford...
Between 1953 and 1958 the Brooklyn, NY native at eleven charted records according to Billboard Magazine, two made the Top 10, besides the above "Eh, Cumpari!", his other Top 10 record was "Anywhere I Wander" {#4 in 1953}...
Mr. La Rosa passed away at the age of 86 on May 12th, 2016...
May he R.I.P.

Paco Aguilera

9y↑6

My grandpa used to sing this song with his best friend, they were both very wise and knew lots of languages, just today i found this song and immediately brought me the best memories of my life, i miss my grandpa more than anything in this world, because he is my current inspiration to become a doctor( he was a doctor and treated lots of patients for free because they didn't had any money) and he always did what he thought was right, i thank him for being the way he was, love you Grandpa..

TackyRackyComixNEO

13y↑2

One of my mom's favorite songs, and I love it too. I just wish I knew Italian so I could understand the lyrics :-D

Nena Riccio

28w↑1

My Uncle Joe serenaded us many times at his home and ours while playing his accordion when we were kids.

denyelle1

9y↑4

oh this brings me back to an amazing holiday through Europe - thank you to our tour director Lynda for playing this fun song

SpaciestCastle6

46w↑3

This is the greatest italian song of All Time

Lord Frobozz

4y↑3

I sung this at a UNICO outing once. I loved it. :)

Doug R.

Lord Frobozz what did the audience think?

Rory Ridge

4y↑67

Clément La Piana

49w↑1

Si dice "u" non "you"

Oshkt 33

3y↑14

tutto corretto, però non dice "you" (ovvero "tu" in italiano) ma dice "U" in siciliano(articolo "IL" in italiano)

Logo Quiz

7y↑4

Richard Urbans

7y↑2

I'm not Italian, my family's ancestry is German, Polish, Russian and Latvian. My heart goes out to you, My Mom has dementia too, I often remind her about this and other songs she and our family liked. It makes her feel better.

Sam Cusimano

7y↑2

+Logo Quiz
Sorry to hear about your mom, hope she recovers. Both my parents are gone. I like this song too.

Rory Ridge

4y↑3

This song gets everyone in the family in a festive mood!

Oh, and it also makes me crave buca di beppo!

mvperson

6y↑4

RIP Julius. What a life this man had. Simply amazing.

Carl Alexander

4y↑1

I’m about 36% Italian from my dad’s side of the family and listened to this a lot when growing up. When I listen and sing along to Eh Cumpari, I could give a rat’s behind about my other 64%!

Josie Pussycat

7y↑5

what great memories for me with this song.... my grandparents played it all the time, and we would all sing to it !!

andrez03

11y↑1

I soooooo love the novelty songs from the Post-WWII, pre-Rock/Elvis era of the late 40s/early 50s. They're sooooo very underrated.

Matthew Aguilar

6y↑23

This was one of my wedding songs! He will be missed.

Ahrya

3y↑2

my stepfather is italian, growin up i have always admired italians because of him, although i am not italian i will always appreciate their culture, music and the people and most of all the language, la lingua italiana è la lingua degli angeli!

Becca Biss

4y↑1

My childhood in one song! Growing up Italian is the best thing everrrrrr

ticket88

13y↑1

One of my favorites. I have the 78 from when I was a kid, used to play it blaring loud over and over and over and over until my mother just about went crazy LOL

Daniel Tomlinson

12y↑1

I remember growing up in a traditional Italian household, my grat grandma made us listen to this! much better than some of the stuff they have out today!

RiskieBizz

10y↑3

My grandpa played me this song everytime we drove somewhere when i was a kid. he passed away and it took me 10 years to find the name of this song, and just listening to it is bringing back the memories. i miss you grandpa

Bill Chambers

5y↑4

I havenot heard this song in DECADES!! I wasn't sure of the title to look up. Thank you much for posting.

I used to watch Julius on Ed Sullivan's show. He sang this song a lot there. I remember one time when he sang "Eh Cumparti" and Ray Bloch was cuing the various instruments in. He was running around like a chicken with its head chopped off. I think that Julius had a big smile on his face while he sang it that time.

Than ks again for posting.

Richard Urbans

7y↑1

I remember my dad playing the recording of this when I was a little boy and I loved it, i think the record was a 78 rpm, the grooves were on one side and the other side had nothing on it, love it! I'll bet this song made a lot of people happy.

Go1US1Marines

4y↑1

Loved it as a kid. Still love it.

brynn rose

4y↑1

i remember always listening to this song when i was little 🥰

Vinicius Gonzales

Lindo. Parabéns!🇧🇷🇮🇪

Auntie A A

7y↑11

A very dear friend of mine would talk about this song and when I found it on here then played it for her she lit up like a Christmas tree. She passed away 2 years ago. Now when I play this song once in a while I think of her. Miss You Kitty

San Last

12y↑2

I have these records. This is the first song on side A. Wow this album was released in the early 70s. Didn't think anyone still had em.

CSILopez

10y↑3

I love how he laughs when he runs out of breath on the friscalettu at 2:13... CLASSIC!

Vladimir Dubinin

10y↑1

Хорошая песня :) Nice song :)))

ROBERTO MALDONADO MARMOLEJO

2y↑1

I love this Italian song a lot.

Neg1213

10y↑2

I remember this song very well from my childhood!

joe slob

6y↑3

Remember learning this from 78. Wonderful! Hard to do so fast ha ha!
I don't even speak Italian but remember the lyric.
Great fun thanks for sharing :)

David Schaefer

6y↑1

My grandmother had this record that played at 78 RPM! We used to have great sing-alongs in her living room!

Backwoods Stomp Balderdash & Blues

6y↑28

my father would sing this to me at bedtime when i was a kid

Kris DeRigo

I just realized, with effectively ZERO Italian schooling, he's basically cataloguing each instrument in sequence....where the fuck has music gone....? This is GOLD.

Gerald Colucci

6y↑10

I GREW UP TO THIS SONG IN THE 50s,..LOVED IT SO MUCH, I BECAME A SINGER AND WAS FORTUNATE TO PERFORM WITH HIM A FEW YEARS AGO IN (THATS ITALIAN)..NICE GUY & A TRUELY WONDERFUL SINGER..ALSO LOVE (DOMANI)..THANKS JULIUS LA ROSA FOR YOUR GIFT TO US!

Greg P

3y↑1

Stop yelling, Gerald.

Michael Friedman

11y↑1

Lovely musical performance by Julius LaRosa

Bob Keefe

5y↑1

Hooray for this! My mother used to sing this ditty exuberantly, sixty years ago, in our back yard while she was hanging the laundry out to dry. What a trip down the old lane.

Flying Fish

9y↑5

I love this song ❤❤❤❤

david fyre

6y↑2

1953. Well I was only Six years old when this song was released. But I still remember it very well. And I still like to listen to it. It brings back alot of pleasant memories of growing up in little Italy in Washington, DC. And it makes me very proud to be American of Sicilian descent. R.I.P. Julius. You are still one of the great ones.

humpty79ify

10y↑2

My kindergarten teacher had this song on an LP. She would teach us how to dance to it. Ahh how I miss those days . Great song.

Rayleen W.

Love this song! does anyone happen to know the chords?

ramune kiwi

13y

I remember singing this song during chorus class back in the 7th grade! which was about 9 years ago... oh the memories...

CloudTheTank

11y↑1

This is a great song. I just picked up the 45 single and i just giggled when i listen to it. One thing i have to say about the single that it has his picture on the lable.

FairDealDan

9y↑30

I heard this in a local Italian restaurant and immediately ordered another pizza that I didn't even need!!!

Nicholas Cirillo

6y↑131

I love that part when he cracks up during it, haha.

_Charliezard _

2y↑1

Savage 31 so it’s funny

Savage 31

Magic Moon

4y↑1

Nicholas Cirillo 2:11

michael birdsley

6y↑14

Yea he tries to whistle but it's like his lips are dry and he can't

James Alamia

5y↑2

This was one of my grandfathers favorite songs. We used to listen to it on the caddys 8-track. He was the best.

guilleum2

7y↑2

I would always hear this song in a small italian restaurant I've been going to since I was little. It's still there and sometimes I hear this song still. I like it a lot

Frank7681

10y↑2

Oh wow same thing for me! My grandpa had a italian restaurant and everytime we went to it, he played me this song also along with Peppino the italian mouse on our way to eat some delicious pasta. I'm only 15 but this reminds me alot of good memories. Sorry for my english :)

Caroline Horan

9y↑3

my family listens to this song every chrismas and its a family tradition

Laurence Sears

6y↑3

This takes me back to a time when I was all of 8 years old. It has been so long so I have even though of Arthur Godfrey and Mr. La Rosa. May he rest in peace.

Richard Wible

5y↑2

Tante grazie! Hearing this song after all of these years chokes me up. The nostalgia is overwhelming. Songs like this were fun and sung at family get-togethers after a hearty meal of spaghetti and meatballs. Nonno would fetch his classical guitar and lead us in song. C'è la Luna Mezzo Mare was another such song. It's sad to witness the culture fade into little more than a distant memory.

Doug R.

Richard Wible —-£u¢Iano Pavarotti brought back “Che la £una” years after Anna Russell made a hilarious version of it.... because it was probably over-done

1 More Replies...

Go1US1Marines

5y↑2

I have to listen to this every once in a while to remind me of a simpler time.

chris20xxh

8y↑3

Amazing song!!!

Sabrina Renwick

16w

I have always loved this song.

David Richards

10y↑1

Hes an amazing singer aint he

Mario Borsellino

9y↑40

Greatest song of all time

Doug Helms

4y↑1

Especially if you happen to be unconscious.

Shemar Bean

4y↑1

Right. I always feel better after listening to this

Lesley Crane

4y↑1

Without a doubt ....😁

David Wood

6y↑14

Remember my Sicilian Grandmother loving this song when I was a little boy in the late 1950's. She used to call me a "Rocka Head".

rotten flesh maniac

2y↑5

Nuoto in un oceano d'amore (klaus , american dad) 👍

Leonardo Artist

6y↑1

IF there is an after-life the band just got another Great performer.

Fernando Garcia

7y↑56

I love these kinda of Italian songs but the future is now changing miss the good old days now

The MidNight Gospel

King X Fernando classic yuri on ice

Bella Caramia

13y

Love it!!

Russell Simonds

Having grown up in a mostly Italian neighborhood I heard this a lot

DaRigger420

Brings fond memories of John Pinette and his story of going to Italy for food.
Big guy with a bigger heart, Rip.

Rick Eastwood

I love Italian music

Lili Marlene

7y↑34

Memory from my childhood.

John C

6y↑27

amazing seeing all these comments about people who experienced this type of music back in the 50's it really shows how much the times have changed and as an 18 year old I honour these musicians from the past that made such amazing music with just so much raw talent and love for the art.
p.s I love the part at 2:15 where he messed up whistling and he just chuckles it put a smile on my face. rest in piece to a beautiful man

abacoabbie

3y↑1

I love it at that part also; reminds me of how simply recorded was most of the music we listened to in the '50s. I got here because, for some odd reason, I was singing this song in my car, but couldn't remember all of the instruments, and I have to simply blow the friscolettu myself now that I'm 84 years old! This isn't a Dad post, it's a Grandad post.

T.Lo

4y↑1

Times haven't changed that much when it comes to good music with raw talent. You just have to do the work to find it. Don't write it off as a generational thing so fast.

joe slob

Remember Holiday for strings? Red Skeleton theme by David Rose?

Pasky Pasky

This was playing in an Italian restaurant my husband and I were eating at and we couldn't stop laughing at this song. I had no idea what it was called so I typed "bippity bop Italian song" into Google and it brought me here. LMFAO!!!!

Mark Macy

7y↑2

Thanks! "Ay combaddi, she was so naughty...." :-)
They played that song in the movie theater, before the movies started and people were still finding their seats, in my small town in the 50s, when I was just a kid. It got etched in my memory, and all my life I've wondered what that song was. I thought it was a clever Spanish song, since our town had a big Hispanic population at the time. Again, thanks for clearing it up.....

Rick Eastwood

I love the Italian people
God bless em

chicago082546

7y↑2

THIS SEEMED TO ALWAYS BE PLAYING AT MY NANA'S HOUSE. WE JUST LEFT SOPRANO'S RESTAURANT IN CAMPBELLTOWN PA (EXCELLENT ITALIAN DINING), THEY ALWAYS HAVE ITALIAN MUSIC PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND AND YONIGHT THIS WAS ONE OF THEM - i LOVED IT !!!

Emily King

He was my dads uncle and sadly Julius has past away about 3 years ago even I never met him I still think in my heart he is still amazing singer !!!! We go to his sons house ( Chris La Rose and his wife anty rorie) I think his son looks like him and his daughter look like his wife!!!! They are amazing people and they are really cool!!!! I never known he was my dads uncle because he was living in New York but on day my dad said let’s go see cousin Cris!!!!! ❤️

Luke Manley

10y↑2

I REALLY LOVE THIS DAMN SONG!

TheAloweWolf

8y↑2

I like it! Very Nice!

1959qwertyui

deathstar2294

9y↑2

I'm not even Italian (I'm Irish) and I love this song.

Tazrahzeljr

one of my fav songs pf all time!!!

elle2125

livy

7y↑3

Love This Song

Ashley Grayson

3y↑2

Memories of Italian classes in high school brought me here🥰

Gaetano

10w

Love this song

Alexan

6y↑1

I love this song.

Dj Quaresma

6y↑9

Man, I love this...

Særks

10y

won the heart of an italian girl back in norway due to humming and singing this at my workplace ^^

Dominick Fontana

11y

@Zhikaaku Yes, me too. My mother's father who I was named after, Grandpa Dominick always played this for me when I was a little boy. Brilliant song and it always held a special place in my heart.

James Burnside

1y↑4

"If you're being kidnapped you gotta EAT SOMETHING first!"

Håkan Åkerblad

1y↑1

I'll go plate up some spaghoot 😂

Icedmind

10y↑1

Alone the giggle at the end when he screws up the whistling is worth gold. Saluti dal nord d'Italia :)

Doomster9

3y↑47

"What the hell is in that sauce" - Steve

Taylor Natoli

11y

Man, my grandpa used to play this song for me all the time.

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