Buti was born near Florence. As a boy, he mastered the Tuscan folk song technique known as "stornello". He ws soon being paid by other men to serenade their girlfriends. He received limited vocal training from Raoul Frazzi and Gino Bechi. He was featured on Italian radio and recorded for Edison Records starting in 1930, but went to Columbia Records by 1934.
Buti has been called the "Frank Sinatra of Italy", because of his preference for the popular songs of the day over the more operatic songs. He retired in 1956 after having recorded 1574 songs[1]. At the time, he was the most recorded voice in Italian music history. His unique warm and melodic "tenorino" style of high quasi-falsetto phrasing sung in the "mezza voce" made him an international success. He also starred in several Italian movies. He passed away at his home in Montelupo Fiorentino, in Tuscany, Italy at the age of 61.
Chitarra romana
Carlo Buti Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roma bella mi appare,
solitario il mio cuor disilluso d'amor.
vuol nell'ombra cantar
Una muta fontana
e un balcone lassù,
o chitarra romana
Suona suona mia chitarra
lascia piangere il mio cuore,
senza casa e senza amore
mi rimani solo tu.
Se la voce è un po' velata
accompagnami in sordina,
la mia bella fornarina
al balcone non c'è più.
Lungotevere dorme
mentre il fiume cammina,
io lo seguo perché mi trascina con sè
e travolge il mio cuor.
Vedo un ombra lontana
e una stella lassù,
o chitarra romana
accompagnami tu.
Se la voce è un po' velata
accompagnami in sordina,
la mia bella fornarina
al balcone non c'è più.
O chitarra romana
accompagnami tu!
Carlo Buti's song "Chitarra Romana" is a nostalgic tribute to the beauty and romance of Rome, as well as a lament for lost love. The song opens with the singer standing under a blanket of stars and feeling disheartened by the end of a relationship. He longs to sing in the shadows and is comforted by the presence of a "mute fountain" and a balcony high above, or failing that, the titular "Chitarra Romana" – a Roman guitar.
The song continues with the singer asking the guitar to accompany him in his sadness and longing for his lost love. He asks the guitar to play softly if his voice is too emotional, and even imagines the object of his affection as a "bella fornarina" or a beautiful baker, standing on her balcony. The languid and sensual verses are tied together with the refrain of "o chitarra romana, accompagnami tu" or "oh, Roman guitar, accompany me," imploring the guitar and the city he loves to be his only companions.
The song is a masterpiece of emotive Italian songwriting that evokes the longing, sensuality, and beauty of Rome. It speaks to anyone who has loved and lost, and to those who find solace in the beauty of a city. Buti's voice, accompanied solely by the soft plucking of the guitar, manages to communicate the depth of his emotions despite the simple lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Sotto un manto di stelle
Underneath a blanket of stars
Roma bella mi appare,
Beautiful Rome appears to me
solitario il mio cuor disilluso d'amor.
My heart is lonely and disillusioned with love
vuol nell'ombra cantar
It wants to sing in the shadows
Una muta fontana
A silent fountain
e un balcone lassù,
And a balcony up there
o chitarra romana
Oh Roman guitar
accompagnami tu.
Accompany me.
Suona suona mia chitarra
Play, play my guitar
lascia piangere il mio cuore,
Let my heart cry
senza casa e senza amore
Without a home and without love
mi rimani solo tu.
You remain alone with me
Se la voce è un po' velata
If the voice is a little hoarse
accompagnami in sordina,
Accompany me in silence
la mia bella fornarina
My beautiful baker girl
al balcone non c'è più.
Is no longer on the balcony
Lungotevere dorme
Lungotevere sleeps
mentre il fiume cammina,
While the river runs
io lo seguo perché mi trascina con sè
I follow it because it drags me along
e travolge il mio cuor.
And overwhelms my heart
Vedo un ombra lontana
I see a distant shadow
e una stella lassù,
And a star up there
o chitarra romana
Oh Roman guitar
accompagnami tu.
Accompany me.
O chitarra romana
Oh Roman guitar
accompagnami tu!
Accompany me!
Writer(s): DI LAZZARO ELDO, CHERUBINI BRUNO
Contributed by Allison G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jorge Muscari
Que voz única!que melodía en su voz!como cantaba este hombre!Dios lo tenga en la gloria
Galina Pungina
Спасибо тем, кто спас такой голос,лицо ! ❤😮😮😮❤❤❤
rayooo blanco
sentir la belleza en uno es sentir a Dios.
Fátima Deus
This is one of the most beautiful italian songs that I like since my childwood! Thanks for posting.
Maurizio B.F.
Soltanto Lui sa interpretarla così! E' una delizia: ti fa sognare, ti fa cantare con lui, ti fa vivere! Grazie ad "aleboero"!
Wendy Darling
What a voice ,rich, charismatic and sultry ,such lovely tones ,thankyou for upload
Lucyana Sotir
God bless forever Carlo Buti !!!
Lucyana Sotir
GRANDE BUTI !!!
LidiaNormaBellinghieri
Una belleza pasa el tiempo e igual me sigue gustando
Carmen Speranza
Maravilloso!!!