1769
Diana di l'Alba Lyrics
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Duve aghju vistu un zitellu
Scrittu ellu s'era in fronte,
Cù lu so sangue... RIBELLU...
Era Maghju sessanta nove
Di seculu settecentu...
U nemicu era francese, l′associu era prussianu,
Venuti eran' d'Acquale à la chjama di Pasquale...
A battaglia fù murtale, a vindetta sanguinosa,
Morti sò quelli d′acquale, vinuti à la ritrosa,
Anu sterpatu la ghjente è brusgiatu li paesi...
O Corsu, ùn ascultà più a sturiaccia chì t′imbrulla,
Quessa vuleria dì chì ribellu hè mortu per nulla
E chì mancu un francu vale l'esiliu di Sgiò pasquale
Sunniatu mi so′ di un ponte
Duve aghju vistu un zitellu
Scrittu ellu s'era in fronte,
Cù lu so sangue... RIBELLU...
Era Maghju sessanta nove
Di seculu settecentu...
The song "1769" by Diana di l'Alba tells the story of a rebel who fought for Corsica's independence against the French in the year 1769. The singer recalls seeing a young man with the word "rebel" written on his forehead in his own blood on a bridge. This young man was one of the many men who fought against the French alongside the Prussians and Genoese in the Battle of Ponte Novu, called for by Pasquale Paoli.
The battle was brutal and bloody, resulting in the deaths of many Corsican rebels and the burning of towns by the French. The singer urges Corsicans to not forget their rebellion and the sacrifice of those who fought for their independence. She also criticizes those who would call rebellion useless and suggests that even if the rebels did not win, their fight was still noble.
Overall, the song is a tribute to the Corsican rebels who fought for their independence from the French in the 18th century and a call to remember their sacrifice.
Line by Line Meaning
Sunniatu mi so′ di un ponte
I remember a bridge where I saw a young boy
Duve aghju vistu un zitellu
Where I saw a child
Scrittu ellu s'era in fronte,
He had written on his forehead
Cù lu so sangue... RIBELLU...
With his blood... REBEL...
Era Maghju sessanta nove
It was May 1769
Di seculu settecentu...
Of the eighteenth century...
U nemicu era francese, l′associu era prussianu,
The enemy was French, the ally was Prussian,
U falzacciu genuvese è u ribellu paisanu
The traitorous Genoese and the rebellious peasant
Venuti eran' d'Acquale à chjama di Pasquale...
They came from Acquale at the call of Pasquale...
A battaglia fù murtale, a vindetta sanguinosa,
The battle was deadly, the vengeance bloody,
Morti sò quelli d′acquale, vinuti à la ritrosa,
The people of Acquale are dead, defeated in retreat,
Anu sterpatu la ghjente è brusgiatu li paesi...
They uprooted the people and burned the villages...
O Corsu, ùn ascultà più a sturiaccia chì t′imbrulla,
Oh Corsican, don't listen to the lies that deceive you,
Quessa vuleria dì chì ribellu hè mortu per nulla
That would mean the rebel died for nothing
E chì mancu un francu vale l'esiliu di Sgiò pasquale
And not even a franc is worth the exile of Sir Pasquale
Sunniatu mi so′ di un ponte
I remember a bridge where I saw a young boy
Duve aghju vistu un zitellu
Where I saw a child
Scrittu ellu s'era in fronte,
He had written on his forehead
Cù lu so sangue... RIBELLU...
With his blood... REBEL...
Era Maghju sessanta nove
It was May 1769
Di seculu settecentu...
Of the eighteenth century...
Writer(s): f pinelli, a marielli
Contributed by Mason D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.