… Read Full Bio ↴Enrico Ruggeri (born June 5, 1957) is an Italian singer-songwriter.
A native of Milan, Ruggeri made his debut in the 1970s with a punk band, the Decibel. In 1981 he began the career as a sole singer and established as a songwriter: his most famous success in this latter role is "Il mare d'inverno" ("The Sea in Winter"), brought to chart by Loredana Bertè.
He won the Sanremo Music Festival twice: in 1987 singing "Si può dare di più" ("You can give more") together with Gianni Morandi and Umberto Tozzi and in 1993 singing "Mistero" ("Mistery"). He represented Italy at Eurovision Song Contest 1993 with the song "Sole D'Europa" ("Sun of Europe").
His personal web site can be found at http://www.enricoruggeri.net/
La Vie En Rouge
Enrico Ruggeri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La mano piccola nella grande mano,
E chi dei due guidava l'altro io non so dirtelo.
C'era sempre un po' di nebbia
Nel parco giochi con la sabbia.
La gente in bianco e nero
E le madri tutte uguali nei foulard e nei paltò.
Vivo e sogno come allora;
Come allora sono qui.
Lo stadio inventato dentro al cortile
Con una pallida lama di sole
E quella voce dalla finestra "E' pronto in tavola".
Il treno che andava incontro al mare
E le mie scarpe da riparare.
Le macchine a pedale,
Tre canzoni, cento lire dentro ai bar.
E tacabanda.
Ma io sono ancora come allora,
Vivo e sogno come allora;
Come allora sono qui.
Adesso dove siete finiti?
Dove vi siete smaterializzati?
I vostri libri e i vostri ritratti li tengo ancora qui.
E passo ancora per gli stessi posti
E riconosco dentro ai gesti
I bambini di una volta,
Diventati tutti grandi tranne me,
Insieme a me.
Tacabanda!
Ma io sono ancora come allora,
Vivo e sogno come allora;
Come allora sono qui. (2 volte)
In Enrico Ruggeri's song "La Vie En Rouge," the singer looks back on his childhood memories and reflects on how he is still the same person he was back then. The first stanza sets the scene of a long walk down a path with a child's hand in a larger one, but it's unclear who is leading whom. The park they reach has a subtle mist around it, and the mothers all look the same with their matching scarves and coats. Despite the passage of time, the singer is still living and dreaming like he did in those moments. He feels a connection to his past, as if he is still there.
In the second stanza, the singer describes more memories from childhood. He remembers a make-shift stadium in a courtyard, a train ride to the sea, and playing with pedal cars. He recalls hearing the call to dinner from a window and having to fix his shoes. Despite the specific details, the emotions and sentimentality are universal. The chorus reminds the listener that the singer is still the same person, even though time has passed. The final stanza asks where everyone from the past has gone, but the singer has kept their images and memories with him. He sees the children he played with all grown up and recognized in their gestures. He still feels the same, despite the passing of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Lungo il viale così lontano
Walking along the long, distant avenue.
La mano piccola nella grande mano,
The small hand holding the big hand,
E chi dei due guidava l'altro io non so dirtelo.
And which one of us was leading the other, I cannot tell you.
C'era sempre un po' di nebbia
There was always a bit of fog
Nel parco giochi con la sabbia.
In the playground with the sand.
La gente in bianco e nero
The people in black and white
E le madri tutte uguali nei foulard e nei paltò.
And the mothers all wearing the same scarves and coats.
Ma io sono ancora come allora,
But I am still the same as I was then,
Vivo e sogno come allora;
Living and dreaming just like I did back then;
Come allora sono qui.
Just like back then, I am here.
Lo stadio inventato dentro al cortile
The stadium invented inside the courtyard
Con una pallida lama di sole
With a pale blade of sunlight
E quella voce dalla finestra 'È pronto in tavola'.
And that voice from the window saying 'Dinner is ready.'
Il treno che andava incontro al mare
The train that was heading towards the sea
E le mie scarpe da riparare.
And my shoes that needed fixing.
Le macchine a pedale,
The pedal cars,
Tre canzoni, cento lire dentro ai bar.
Three songs, one hundred lira inside the bars.
E tacabanda.
And tacabanda.
Adesso dove siete finiti?
Now where have you all gone?
Dove vi siete smaterializzati?
Where have you all disappeared?
I vostri libri e i vostri ritratti li tengo ancora qui.
I still have your books and your portraits here.
E passo ancora per gli stessi posti
And I still pass by the same places
E riconosco dentro ai gesti
And I recognize in the gestures
I bambini di una volta,
The children from before,
Diventati tutti grandi tranne me,
All grown up except for me,
Insieme a me.
Together with me.
Tacabanda!
Tacabanda!
Ma io sono ancora come allora,
But I am still the same as I was then,
Vivo e sogno come allora;
Living and dreaming just like I did back then;
Come allora sono qui. (2 volte)
Just like back then, I am here. (2 times)
Contributed by Abigail D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.