Paoli was born in Monfalcone, but moved very early to Genoa.
After several different jobs, he was called by Ricordi with his friends Luigi Tenco and Bruno Lauzi. His first success was the single "La gatta". This was followed by "Sapore di sale", arranged by Ennio Morricone. In the same year he attempted suicide by shooting at his heart, but he survived.
In 1974 he returned with the LP I semafori rossi non sono Dio, followed by Il mio mestiere (1977). Both showed a more mature inspiration than his 1960s works. In the 1980s Paoli procuded a series of successful albums, and in 1985 he toured Italy together with Ornella Vanoni.
In 1987 he was elected to the Italian Chamber of Deputies for the Italian Communist Party. He abandoned politics in 1992.
He was married with actress Stefania Sandrelli, from whom he divorced. Their daughter Amanda Sandrelli is also an actress.
wikipedia.org
All'est niente di nuovo
Gino Paoli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Che si mette proprio sulla testa
Serve a riparare dagli spari
Serve a riparare dal pensiero
Il pensiero che dall'altra parte c'e′ qualcuno come te
Che potr? soffrire e anche morire
Esattamente come te
Proprio come l′hanno detto a te
E gli hanno parlato ancora di patria e d' eroi
E gli hanno parlato anche di lei
Quando lo vedrai senza divisa
Senza la bandiera e senza elmetto
Tu t′accorgerai che è solo un uomo
E che tu sei quello che l'ha ucciso
Oggi è un giorno dolce da sognare
Che qualcuno nascer?
Oggi è un giorno triste da soffrire
Che qualcuno morir?
Ed il mondo non sar? pi? lo stesso
Se qualcuno oggi nascer?
Ed il mondo non sar? pi? lo stesso sai
Se qualcuno oggi morir?
Quando si va in guerra c′e' l′elmetto
Che si mette proprio sulla testa
Ci vuole una testa fatta apposta
Fatta un po' diversa dalla mia
The lyrics to Gino Paoli's song All'est niente di nuovo reflect on war, specifically the idea that soldiers on opposing sides are not so different from each other. The helmet that is worn to protect from enemy fire is also said to protect from the thoughts that one's opponent is just like oneself, and is also capable of suffering and dying. The soldiers on either side are told that the other is a "bastard," and are fed patriotic rhetoric about their countries and heroes. However, in reality, when the enemy is seen outside of their uniform and national symbols, they are just another person, no different from the person who killed them. The song ends on a bittersweet note, acknowledging that while new life brings hope, death brings irreparable change to the world.
Paoli's use of imagery in these lyrics is especially powerful. The helmet and uniform symbolize the dehumanization of soldiers, while the reminder that everyone is capable of the same emotions and experiences helps to humanize them once again. The contrast between the "sweet" day of birth and the "sad" day of death highlights the duality of life, and the inevitability of change.
Line by Line Meaning
Quando si va in guerra c′e' l′elmetto
When going to war, you wear a helmet.
Che si mette proprio sulla testa
It goes right on top of your head.
Serve a riparare dagli spari
It protects you from gunfire.
Serve a riparare dal pensiero
It also protects you from thinking too much.
Il pensiero che dall'altra parte c'e′ qualcuno come te
The thought that on the other side, there is someone like you.
Che potr? soffrire e anche morire
Someone who can suffer and die just like you.
E gli han detto che tu sei un bastardo
And they told him that you are a bastard.
Proprio come l′hanno detto a te
Just like they told you.
E gli hanno parlato ancora di patria e d' eroi
And they talked to him about patriotism and heroes.
E gli hanno parlato anche di lei
And they also talked to him about her.
Quando lo vedrai senza divisa
When you see him without his uniform.
Senza la bandiera e senza elmetto
Without his flag and without his helmet.
Tu t′accorgerai che è solo un uomo
You will realize that he is just a man.
E che tu sei quello che l'ha ucciso
And that you are the one who killed him.
Oggi è un giorno dolce da sognare
Today is a sweet day to dream.
Che qualcuno nascer?
That someone will be born today.
Oggi è un giorno triste da soffrire
Today is a sad day to suffer.
Che qualcuno morir?
That someone will die today.
Ed il mondo non sar? pi? lo stesso
And the world will no longer be the same.
Se qualcuno oggi nascer?
If someone is born today.
Ed il mondo non sar? pi? lo stesso sai
And the world will no longer be the same, you know.
Se qualcuno oggi morir?
If someone dies today.
Quando si va in guerra c′e' l′elmetto
When going to war, you wear a helmet.
Che si mette proprio sulla testa
It goes right on top of your head.
Ci vuole una testa fatta apposta
It takes a special kind of mind.
Fatta un po' diversa dalla mia
One that is different from mine.
Writer(s): g. paoli
Contributed by Mila K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.