Stella Della Strada
Francesco De Gregori Lyrics

Francesco De Gregori's song Stella della Strada speaks of a relationship that is on the brink of falling apart, yet the singer is trying to hold onto it for one more night, pleading with his partner to stay with him: "Vieni insieme a me stasera, Stella della Strada. Guardami la notte intera, tienimi a bada" (Come with me tonight, Street Star. Look at me all night, keep me in check). He is aware that this may be their last night together, and he wants to make it count, playing music and sharing his pain with his partner: "E ascolta questa nota stonata, come batte nel cuore. Senti Stella della Strada, questa musica, questo dolore" (And listen to this off-key note, how it beats in the heart. Feel it, Street Star, this music, this pain).

The singer then asks his partner to collect their memories, feelings and love from the past, and throw them away like the wind blows away leaves: "Raccogli i bicchieri e i pensieri, e i vestiti sul pavimento, raccogli l'amore di ieri e buttalo via nel vento" (Collect the glasses and thoughts, and the clothes on the floor, collect yesterday's love and throw it away in the wind). The love they shared once burned like fire, but now it's like ice, cold and distant: "È ghiaccio se lo tocchi da fuori ma è fuoco che scotta dentro, è ghiaccio se lo tocchi da fuori ma è fuoco che brucia e non è ancora spento" (It's ice if you touch it from the outside, but it's fire that burns inside, it's ice if you touch it from the outside, but it's fire that burns and is not yet extinguished).

In the second verse, the singer acknowledges that their relationship has run its course, and they may just be a memory or a song: "Vieni insieme a me stasera, dimentica il mio nome, saremo i pezzi di una storia vera o di una canzone" (Come with me tonight, forget my name, we'll be the pieces of a true story or a song). The moon and Venus are rising, as their love is slowly exploding, and the singer implores his partner to feel the moment and live in it: "C'è una luna che sale ai tuoi piedi, Venere sta crescendo. La 'Santabarbara' del tuo cuore, lentamente, sta esplodendo" (There's a moon rising at your feet, Venus is growing. The 'Santa Barbara' in your heart is slowly exploding). He then asks them to hold onto the innocence and beauty of what they had, but ultimately let it go and move on: "Raccogli le perle e la pioggia e l'innocenza del pavimento, raccogline l'ultima goccia e buttala via nel tempo" (Collect the pearls and rain and the innocence from the ground, collect the last drop and throw it away in time). The song ends with the singer accepting that the love they had was not worth much, but at least it didn't demand or take anything from them: "E lascia passare quest'uomo, questo amore di serpente, che certo non ti ha dato molto, ma in cambio non ti ha chiesto e non ti ha preso niente" (And let this man, this snake love, pass by, who certainly didn't give you much, but in return, didn't ask or take anything from you).