Gino Paoli (born 23 September 1934) is an Italian singer-songwriter.
Read Full Bio ↴Gino Paoli (born 23 September 1934) is an Italian singer-songwriter.

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.
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Bambino Io Bambino Tu
Gino Paoli Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lui stava lì seduto nel giardino
Ed era quasi nudo e piccolino
Di dove era venuto, non lo so
Ma era normale che lui fosse lì
Aveva un occhio nero e un occhio blu
Bambino mio, bambino

Sembrava primavera ed era inverno

E c'eran tanti fiori tutto intorno
Doveva essere buio e c'era luce
E c'era tutto quello che mi piace
Aveva un occhio nero e un occhio blu
Bambino mio, bambino

Mi son seduto in terra lì vicino
Ed era lui mio padre e lui mio figlio
Ho parlato di cose che non so
Di cose che non ho saputo mai
Aveva un occhio nero e un occhio blu
Bambino mio, bambino

Poi m'è venuto sonno lì in giardino
Cantava e la sua voce era sottile
Mi son svegliato e lui non c'era più
C'era un fiore di carta al posto suo
Io avevo un occhio nero e un occhio blu
Bambino io, bambino tu

Mi sono svegliato e lui non c'era più
C'era un fiore di carta al posto suo
Io avevo un occhio nero e un occhio blu
Bambino io, bambino tu
Bambino io, bambino tu

E ninna eh, e ninna oh
Bambino io, bambino tu
E ninna eh, e ninna oh
Bambino io, bambino tu
E ninna eh, e ninna oh
Bambino io, bambino tu
E ninna eh, e ninna oh

Bambino io, bambino tu
Bambino io, bambino tu

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gino Paoli's song "Bambino Io Bambino Tu" paint a poignant and introspective picture of a child-like figure, depicted with a sense of mystery and innocence. The song opens with a description of the child sitting in the garden, almost naked and small, with mismatched eyes - one black and one blue. The uncertainty of his origins is emphasized with the line "Di dove era venuto, non lo so" (I don't know where he came from), suggesting a sense of enigma surrounding this child's presence.

As the verses progress, the imagery of the setting juxtaposes elements of spring and winter, darkness and light, creating a dreamlike atmosphere. The singer finds himself drawn to the child, feeling a familial connection as he contemplates the enigmatic nature of their relationship. The repetition of "Bambino mio, bambino" echoes a sense of recognition and bonding between the singer and the child, blurring the lines between paternal and filial roles.

The conversation between the singer and the child becomes a reflection on the unknowable aspects of life, as they discuss things that the singer admits to not understanding. The motif of the child's eyes - one black and one blue - could symbolize duality, complexity, or the blending of different perspectives and experiences. The bond between the two characters deepens as they share this intimate moment of reflection and vulnerability.

The conclusion of the song brings a sense of melancholy and mystery, as the singer wakes up to find the child gone, replaced by a paper flower. The shift in perspective, with the singer now possessing the mismatched eyes, implies a merging of identities or a shared experience of loss and transformation. The haunting repetition of "Bambino io, bambino tu" in the final lines suggests a sense of unity and interconnectedness, transcending individual differences and separations. The lullaby-like refrain at the end serves as a soothing yet haunting reminder of the bond that transcends time and space between the singer and the enigmatic child.

Line by Line Meaning

Lui stava lì seduto nel giardino
He was sitting there in the garden

Ed era quasi nudo e piccolino
And he was almost naked and small

Di dove era venuto, non lo so
I don't know where he had come from

Ma era normale che lui fosse lì
But it was normal for him to be there

Aveva un occhio nero e un occhio blu
He had one black eye and one blue eye

Bambino mio, bambino
My child, my child

Sembrava primavera ed era inverno
It seemed like spring but it was winter

E c'eran tanti fiori tutto intorno
And there were many flowers all around

Doveva essere buio e c'era luce
It should have been dark but there was light

E c'era tutto quello che mi piace
And there was everything that I like

Mi son seduto in terra lì vicino
I sat down on the ground nearby

Ed era lui mio padre e lui mio figlio
And he was both my father and my son

Ho parlato di cose che non so
I talked about things I don't know

Di cose che non ho saputo mai
About things I never knew

Poi m'è venuto sonno lì in giardino
Then sleep came over me in the garden

Cantava e la sua voce era sottile
He sang and his voice was thin

Mi son svegliato e lui non c'era più
I woke up and he was no longer there

C'era un fiore di carta al posto suo
There was a paper flower in his place

Io avevo un occhio nero e un occhio blu
I had one black eye and one blue eye