Francesco De Gregori (born in Rome on April 4, 1951) is one of the most ori… Read Full Bio ↴Francesco De Gregori (born in Rome on April 4, 1951) is one of the most original Italian songwriters. The poetry and commitment in his songs, as well as the melody of his compositions (inspired by Lucio Battisti, as De Gregori once stated), make him one of the best artists on the Italian musical landscape.
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.

Spalle Larghe
Francesco De Gregori Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Un uomo con le spalle larghe, ecco cosa ci vorrebbe per te,
che ti capisce senza farlo capire e non ti spieghi mai perché,
che ti conosca da quand'eri piccola, o che da piccola ti immaginava già.
Un uomo con le spalle larghe, lo sa bene lui come si fa.
Un uomo con le spalle larghe, la paura non sa nemmeno che è,
se tira freddo si alza il bavero e corregge il caffè.
Può ritornare sporco di rossetto, tanto ha una faccia che non tradisce,
un uomo come ce ne sono tanti, che quando vuole non capisce.

Un uomo con le spalle larghe, la fortuna non sa nemmeno che è,
ogni sera fa cadere le stelle, ogni mattina le raccoglie con te,
e se bastassero le cartoline, te ne manderebbe una ogni anno,
e poi potresti vederlo piangere, come gli uomini non fanno,
un uomo che mangia il fuoco, e per scaldarti si fa bruciare.
Diventa cenere a poco a poco ma non la smette di amare.
Un uomo con le spalle larghe tutta la vita ti prenderà,
per insegnarti e per impararti, se mai la vita basterà.

In una grande casa con le finestre aperte, in certe stanze piene di vento.
Un uomo con le spalle larghe una buona misura del tempo.

Overall Meaning

The song Spalle Larghe by Francesco De Gregori talks about a man with broad shoulders, someone who could be there for the person he is singing to, somebody who could understand them without them having to explain everything and who could know them since they were little kids or even imagine them. He would not be afraid of anything and would just raise the collar of his coat and fix his coffee when it is cold. This person could also come home with lipstick on his collar but could never be caught, and when he wants something, he just goes for it without notice.

The person with broad shoulders has good luck but does not realize it and he makes the stars fall every night just to pick them up in the morning with the person he loves. He would even send postcards every year and would cry like men do not do. He is a man who eats fire to keep the person he loves warm and he would burn up slowly, but he still would not stop loving them. This man will take care of them for the rest of their life and will teach them everything they need to know to survive.

The lyrics of Spalle Larghe by Francesco De Gregori are all about the qualities that a person should have to be there for someone they love. The personification of the man with broad shoulders represents all the necessary qualities such as strength, protection, understanding, love, and life wisdom. The lyrics are not just poetic but are also personally engaging as they speak to a person who would want to live with someone who has all these qualities. It is a song that is both soothing and comforting as it speaks directly to the heart.

Line by Line Meaning

Un uomo con le spalle larghe, ecco cosa ci vorrebbe per te,
What you need is a man with broad shoulders, who understands you without you having to explain, and who never explains himself to you, who knew you since you were little, or who imagined you when you were little.

che ti capisce senza farlo capire e non ti spieghi mai perché,
He understands you without making you explain, and you can never understand why.

che ti conosca da quand'eri piccola, o che da piccola ti immaginava già.
He knew you since you were a child, or he imagined you when you were a child already.

Un uomo con le spalle larghe, lo sa bene lui come si fa.
He knows how to do it, a man with broad shoulders.

Un uomo con le spalle larghe, la paura non sa nemmeno che è,
He doesn't even know what fear is, a man with broad shoulders.

se tira freddo si alza il bavero e corregge il caffè.
If it's cold, he adjusts his collar and fixes his coffee.

Può ritornare sporco di rossetto, tanto ha una faccia che non tradisce,
He could come back with lipstick on, he has a face that doesn't give anything away.

un uomo come ce ne sono tanti, che quando vuole non capisce.
He's just like many other men, who don't understand when they don't want to.

Un uomo con le spalle larghe, la fortuna non sa nemmeno che è,
He doesn't even know what luck is, a man with broad shoulders.

ogni sera fa cadere le stelle, ogni mattina le raccoglie con te,
He makes the stars fall every night, and collects them with you every morning.

e se bastassero le cartoline, te ne manderebbe una ogni anno,
If postcards were enough, he would send you one every year.

e poi potresti vederlo piangere, come gli uomini non fanno,
And then you could see him cry, like men usually don't.

un uomo che mangia il fuoco, e per scaldarti si fa bruciare.
A man who eats fire, and burns himself to keep you warm.

Diventa cenere a poco a poco ma non la smette di amare.
He becomes ashes slowly but never stops loving you.

Un uomo con le spalle larghe tutta la vita ti prenderà,
A man with broad shoulders will take care of you all his life.

per insegnarti e per impararti, se mai la vita basterà.
To teach you, and to learn from you, if life is enough.

In una grande casa con le finestre aperte, in certe stanze piene di vento.
In a big house with open windows, in certain rooms full of wind.

Un uomo con le spalle larghe una buona misura del tempo.
A man with broad shoulders is a good measure of time.

Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.