Gianna Nannini (born 14 June 1956, Siena, Italy) is a female singer-songwri… Read Full Bio ↴Gianna Nannini (born 14 June 1956, Siena, Italy) is a female singer-songwriter and rock musician. The older sister to former Formula 1 driver Alessandro Nannini, she studied piano in Turin and then composition in Milan.

Her first album was released in 1976 but her hit was in 1979 with the single America and the album California, which became a success in several European countries. The rise to fame in Italy started in 1984 with the release of her sixth album, Puzzle. This album peaked in the top 10 at the Italian, German, Austrian and Swiss hit-parades. She sang for the videoclip Fotoromanza (directed by Michelangelo Antonioni), won several musical awards and started a European tour, including a participation at the Montreux Jazz Festival. In 1986 her hit Bello e impossibile was a huge success and brought her more awards in Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Her 1987 compilation Maschi e altri sold over a million copies.

In 1990 she sang Un'estate italiana, the official song of the Football World Cup 1990, together with Edoardo Bennato.

She graduated in philosophy from the University of Siena in 1994. The following year she took part in a protest organized by Greenpeace at the French embassy in Rome against the decision of the French government to pursue nuclear experiments at Mururoa.

Her album Grazie was released in February 2006, and has peaked at number one of the Italian hit-parade with the single Sei nell'anima. After this two more released and another one is planned for 2011titled: "Io e te".

Ninna Nanna
Gianna Nannini Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tu sei bianco tu sei nero
Tu sei quasi jugoslavo
Tu sei turco, tu sei ucraino
Tu sei universalio
E mi piaci sembri azzurro
Come il fiume Giordano
La tua faccia di uccellino ha un cuore catalano
Dormi dormi vola via da te

Dormi dormi vola via di quì
Finchè sarà domani
Tu sei bimbo, tu sei fungo
Tu sei un viaggio all'inferno
Tu sei vivo tu sei amore
Sei un cucciolo e dintorni
Dormi dormi vola via da te
Dormi dormi vola via di quì
Finchè sarà domani
Ninna nanna, ninna'o
Questo bimbo a chi lo do
Ninna nanna ninna'o
Tu sei ninna sei la nanna
Sulla carta velina
Fai la ninna fai la nanna
Che hai già l'anima in vetrina

Ninna nanna ninna'o
Questo figlio a chi lo do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Gianna Nannini's song "Ninna Nanna" describe a lullaby sung to a child who embodies different cultural identities. The child is described as both black and white, Turkish and Ukrainian, and ultimately, universal. Despite their diverse background, the singer finds the child's face appealing, likening it to the blue of the Jordan River and noting that it has a Catalan heart. The child is also compared to a mushroom and a journey to hell, suggesting that they are complex and multifaceted.

The repetition of "dormi dormi vola via" ("sleep, sleep, fly away") in the chorus further emphasizes the lullaby's calming, soothing intent. The singer questions who the child will become and who they will belong to, asking "nella nanna, ninna'o / questo bimbo a chi lo do" ("in the lullaby, who do I give this child to?"). The lullaby concludes with an assurance that the child is the lullaby itself, "sei ninna sei la nanna / sulla carta velina" ("you are the lullaby, on the tissue paper").

Line by Line Meaning

Tu sei bianco tu sei nero
You may appear to be of a different race, but it doesn't matter to me because I see you as you truly are.

Tu sei quasi jugoslavo
You may come from a different country, but that doesn't change the way I feel about you.

Tu sei turco, tu sei ucraino
Your nationality does not define who you are as a person.

Tu sei universalio
You are a citizen of the world, and I appreciate and embrace the diverse qualities that make you unique.

E mi piaci sembri azzurro
I'm drawn to your aura as it reminds me of the serene blue waters of the river Jordan.

Come il fiume Giordano
Your peaceful and gentle nature makes me feel like I'm floating along the river Jordan.

La tua faccia di uccellino ha un cuore catalano
Your innocent face and gentle demeanor reveal a deeper passion and strength within you, like that of the people of Catalonia.

Dormi dormi vola via da te
Sleep and let your worries fade away.

Dormi dormi vola via di quì
Sleep and escape the stresses of everyday life.

Finchè sarà domani
Until tomorrow comes, rest easy and leave your troubles behind.

Tu sei bimbo, tu sei fungo
You are innocent, pure, and like a child - uncorrupted by the harsh realities of the world.

Tu sei un viaggio all'inferno
But you are also a journey that can take me through the depths of hell and back.

Tu sei vivo tu sei amore
You are full of life, and your unconditional love makes me feel truly alive.

Sei un cucciolo e dintorni
You are like a cute and cuddly puppy, surrounded by affection and love.

Ninna nanna, ninna'o
Sleep, my little one, sleep.

Questo bimbo a chi lo do
But to whom do I give this precious child of mine?

Ninna nanna ninna'o
Sleep, my little one, sleep.

Tu sei ninna sei la nanna
You are the lullaby that soothes me to sleep at night.

Sulla carta velina
Written on delicate tissue paper,