Lu rusciu te lu mare
Alla Bua Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Nu giurnu scei ‘ncaccia a li patuli
e ‘ntisi na cranonchiula cantare.

A una a una le sentia cantare
ca me pariane lu rusciu te lu mare.

Lu rusciu te lu mare è troppu forte
la fija te lu re si ta la morte.

Iddha si ta la morte e jeu la vita
la fija te lu re sta se marita.

Iddha sta se marita e jeu me ‘nzuru
la fija te li re porta nu fiuru.

Iddha porta nu fiuru e jeu na parma
la fija te lu re sta va ‘lla Spagna.

Iddha sta va la Spagna e jeu ‘n Turchia
la fija te lu re è a zita mia.

E vola vola vola vola vola
e vola vola vola palomba mia




ca jeu lu core meu te l'aggiu ddare
ca jeu lu core meu te l'aggiu ddare.

Overall Meaning

The song "Lu rusciu te lu mare" by Alla Bua is a classic Sicilian folk song that tells the story of a woman who is courted by a prince, but in the end chooses a simple man. In the first few lines, the singer hears the song of a bird and is reminded of the sound of the sea. The song then moves on to describe the power of the sea and how it can even cause the death of the daughter of the king (referred to in this song as "la fija te lu re").


The lyrics then turn to the story of the king's daughter getting married, but the singer is not there to witness it because he is off doing something else (the specifics of which are not explained in the song). The story then takes a curious turn, as the singer mentions the daughter of the king traveling to other countries, and the revelation that she is the singer's sweetheart ("la fija te lu re è a zita mia").


The song ends with the repeated phrase "e vola vola vola" which means "and fly, fly, fly". This phrase, along with the rest of the lyrics, have been interpreted in different ways by listeners over the years. Some have seen it as a celebration of the freedom and autonomy of the woman who chooses her own path rather than being trapped by her royal birth, while others have noted the melancholy tone and seen it as a lament for the missed opportunity of being with the daughter of the king.


Line by Line Meaning

Nu giurnu scei ‘ncaccia a li patuli
On a hunting day out in the countryside, I heard a quail singing.


e ‘ntisi na cranonchiula cantare.
And I heard a nightingale singing alongside.


A una a una le sentia cantare
One by one, I heard them singing beautifully.


ca me pariane lu rusciu te lu mare.
It reminded me of the strong sound of the sea waves crashing on the shore.


Lu rusciu te lu mare è troppu forte
The sound of the sea waves is too strong.


la fija te lu re si ta la morte.
The king's daughter risks her life being close to it.


Iddha si ta la morte e jeu la vita
She risks her life, but I embrace it.


la fija te lu re sta se marita.
The king's daughter is getting married.


Iddha sta se marita e jeu me ‘nzuru
She gets married, and I feel envious.


la fija te li re porta nu fiuru.
The king's daughter carries a torch.


Iddha porta nu fiuru e jeu na parma
She carries a torch, and I hold a gun.


la fija te lu re sta va ‘lla Spagna.
The king's daughter travels to Spain.


Iddha sta va la Spagna e jeu ‘n Turchia
She travels to Spain, and I to Turkey.


la fija te lu re è a zita mia.
The king's daughter is my lover.


E vola vola vola vola vola
And she flies, she flies, she flies,


e vola vola vola palomba mia
And she flies, my dove,


ca jeu lu core meu te l'aggiu ddare
Because I give you my heart.


ca jeu lu core meu te l'aggiu ddare.
Because I give you my heart.




Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@SockAccount111

One eve I was strolling amidst the marshes
And I heard the frogs singing

One by one I heard them singing
And their singing sounded like the sea roaring

The sea's roaring is far too strong
The king's daughter gives herself to death

She gives herself to death, and I (give myself) to life
The King's daughter is about to marry

She's marrying and I am taking wife
The King's daughter has given me a flower

She gave me a flower and I (gave her) a palm branch
The King's daughter is going to Spain

She is going to Spain and I (am going) to Turkey
The King's daughter is my beloved

Fly, fly dove
Fly my dove
For I have to give you my heart



All comments from YouTube:

@elizawitz4892

Oggi ci ha lasciati Gigi Toma.. Siamo tutti devastati.. Ci restano le sue canzoni e l entusiasmo di questo meraviglioso gruppo Allabua. A te gigi riposa in pace ❤💔🌹

@Ganettola

Da polentonissima (vivo tra le montagne), io vi dico... Salento per sempre! Amo tutto il mio paese alla follia, ma la Puglia ha un posto speciale nel mio cuore.

@ettorecapone66

Salentu Lu sule mare Lu ientu x sempre salentu

@davadavo

Sono francese, sto imparando l'italiano ogni mesi fa perche mi affascina la vostra cultura. Più particolarmente l'Italia meridionale grace alla musica. Ma l'Italia è bella e diversa.
Un abbracio dalla Bretagna!

@samuelabate3878

Bonjour ,merci pour le message,en Bretagne vous avez également une profonde culture, que j'apprécie énormément.
Je ne suis pas expert en musique,mais dans cette région(Salentina),j'ai l'impression d'entendre au niveau instrumentale une légère influence celtique,comme la Bretagne.
Buona giornata ,di Francia.

@davadavo

@@samuelabate3878 alors les influences sont rèciproques ! Écoutez la Dérobée de Guingamp du groupe Tri Yann ou de n'importe quel bagad, vous y reconnaîtrez quelque influence de l'Italie du Sud.

@maxsavage3998

This isnt italian its ethnic south italian

@fabriziosperandio276

Hep brezhoneg Breizh ebet!

@ITALICVS

@@maxsavage3998 this isn't oil, it's olive juice

9 More Replies...

@simonegagliani8722

Per chi sta lontano dalla sua terra d’origine, ascoltare questa canzone, provoca un sacco di emozioni,sensazioni. Ogni volta che ascolto questo brano mi viene la pelle d’oca e se chiudo gli occhi mi ritrovo in mezzo ad un oliveto, baciato dal sole, abbracciato dal vento con la sua fragranza di mare. Volevo condividere questo pensiero, perché credo che chiunque salentino prova queste sensazioni come le provo io. Salento nel cuore

More Comments

More Versions