Influenced by Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen and the Italian singer-songwriter Fabrizio de André, Francesco De Gregori started his career in the beginning of the 1970's.
He is popularly known as "Il Principe Poeta" ("The Poet Prince"), the nickname refers to the elegance of his lyrics.
L'Ultima Nave
Francesco De Gregori Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
da terre molto lontane,
guarda che belle bandiere
e guarda che navi strane.
La prima è già arrivata,
però non c'è nessuno a bordo,
oggi arrivano cinque navi
ma la prima è già soltanto un ricordo.
Oggi arrivano quattro navi,
guarda che belle prue,
chissà che potremmo trovare
sulla nave numero due.
Dieci bambini magri magri
e mezzo tozzo di pane,
la nave per ora rimane al largo
però mi è già passata la fame.
Oggi arrivano tre navi
cariche di caffè,
ma guarda che strane persone
a bordo della numero tre.
Hanno le mani pulite pulite
perchè non le usano mai,
deve essere gente pericolosa,
gente che va in cerca di guai.
E guarda che belle bandiere,
guarda che belle chitarre,
guarda che facce felici
dietro a quelle sbarre.
Sulla penultima nave,
attori e musicisti,
rubano una scialuppa
e chi li ha visti li ha visti.
E poi c'è la nave più piccola,
la nave che non può affondare,
la nave che arriva per ultima,
la più bella in mezzo al mare,
perchè sulla nave più piccola,
quella che aspetto io,
ci sta il tuo cuore di ragazza
che ho catturato io.
The song "L'Ultima Nave" by Francesco De Gregori talks about the arrival of five ships that come from very distant lands, bringing with them different types of people, goods and experiences. In the first verse, he describes the anticipation of the arrival of these ships and how people are eager to see the "strange" vessels and their flags. However, as the first ship arrives, he notes that there is no one on board, and that it can only be seen as a distant memory. This line represents the fleeting nature of life and how things that we once cherished can easily vanish, leaving only memories behind.
In the second verse, the artist describes the arrival of another ship, expressing hope that he might find something useful on board. Eventually, he notes that he sees only ten starving children and half a loaf of bread, and the ship stays offshore. This verse speaks to the idea of how hope can lead to disappointment and how finding what we need might not always be possible.
In the third verse, he describes the arrival of a ship loaded with coffee and strange people. These people are described as being dangerous and seeking trouble. However, the artist observes their happiness and passion through their chitarre and bandeira. The verse shows how the same people that we might perceive as dangerous can still have positive qualities, such as being passionate about music.
The final verse talks about the smallest ship that cannot sink, and how it carries the heart of the girl he loves. He claims to have captured her heart and references his wait for her to arrive on the ship. This can be seen as a metaphor for how love can be unpredictable and fleeting, and how we need to cherish the moments we have with those we love.
Overall, "L'Ultima Nave" is a poetic interpretation of arrivals and departures, the fleeting nature of human experiences, and how hope and disappointment can intertwine to shape our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Oggi arrivano cinque navi,
Today five ships arrive,
da terre molto lontane,
from lands far away,
guarda che belle bandiere
look at those beautiful flags
e guarda che navi strane.
and look at those strange ships.
La prima è già arrivata,
The first one has already arrived,
però non c'è nessuno a bordo,
but there's no one on board,
oggi arrivano cinque navi
today, five ships arrive
ma la prima è già soltanto un ricordo.
but the first one is already just a memory.
Oggi arrivano quattro navi,
Today, four ships arrive,
guarda che belle prue,
look at those beautiful bows,
chissà che potremmo trovare
who knows what we might find
sulla nave numero due.
on the second ship.
Dieci bambini magri magri
Ten very skinny children
e mezzo tozzo di pane,
and half a loaf of bread,
la nave per ora rimane al largo
the ship remains offshore for now
però mi è già passata la fame.
but I'm already not hungry anymore.
Oggi arrivano tre navi
Today, three ships arrive
cariche di caffè,
loaded with coffee,
ma guarda che strane persone
but look at those strange people
a bordo della numero tre.
on board the third one.
Hanno le mani pulite pulite
Their hands are very clean,
perché non le usano mai,
because they never use them,
deve essere gente pericolosa,
they must be dangerous people,
gente che va in cerca di guai.
people looking for trouble.
E guarda che belle bandiere,
And look at those beautiful flags,
guarda che belle chitarre,
look at those beautiful guitars,
guarda che facce felici
look at those happy faces
dietro a quelle sbarre.
behind those bars.
Sulla penultima nave,
On the second to last ship,
attori e musicisti,
actors and musicians,
rubano una scialuppa
steal a lifeboat
e chi li ha visti li ha visti.
and whoever saw them, saw them.
E poi c'è la nave più piccola,
And then there's the smallest ship,
la nave che non può affondare,
the ship that can't sink,
la nave che arriva per ultima,
the ship that arrives last,
la più bella in mezzo al mare,
the most beautiful in the middle of the sea,
perché sulla nave più piccola,
because on the smallest ship,
quella che aspetto io,
the one I'm waiting for,
ci sta il tuo cuore di ragazza
there is your girl's heart
che ho catturato io.
that I captured.
Contributed by Benjamin O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Elisabetta Nesi
L'ultima neve
Antonietta Dechiccu
Io 90 o