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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In un caffè
Gino Paoli Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

In un caffè
Coi camerieri maleducati
Per la prima volta
Noi ci siamo amati

In un caffè
Senza neppure il portacenere
T'ho sentita tremare

E fremere per me

Io non vedevo i tuoi occhi
Non li vedevo
Però piuttosto annoiato
E non ti guardavo

Eppure là
Sopra le tazze di caffè fatto male
È nato tutto quel che conta per noi
Per te e per me

Io non vedevo i tuoi occhi
Non li vedevo
Però piuttosto annoiato
E non ti guardavo

Eppure là
Sopra le tazze di caffè fatto male

È nato tutto quel che conta per noi
Per te e per me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gino Paoli's song "In un caffè" depict a love story that unfolds unexpectedly in a café. The singer describes their first encounter in a café with rude waiters, but it is in this unlikely setting that they fall in love for the first time. The atmosphere in the café is not ideal, lacking even a proper ashtray, but despite the imperfect surroundings, the singer perceives a deep connection with their lover. They feel their partner trembling and quivering for them.

Line by Line Meaning

In un caffè
In a café

Coi camerieri maleducati
With rude waiters

Per la prima volta
For the first time

Noi ci siamo amati
We loved each other

Senza neppure il portacenere
Without even an ashtray

T'ho sentita tremare
I felt you trembling

E fremere per me
And quivering for me

Io non vedevo i tuoi occhi
I couldn't see your eyes

Non li vedevo
I didn't see them

Però piuttosto annoiato
But rather bored

E non ti guardavo
And I didn't look at you