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
Maschere
Gino Paoli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Arlecchino e Colombina
San piangere, san ridere
Ma soltanto con la mascherina
Hai gli occhi color lillà
Strani come quelli di una gatta
Io porto un abito
Sei una marionetta che non sa neppure quel che fa
Ma se sorridi
Tutto sei per me
E vivo solo in te
La favola di Arlecchino
Arlecchino e Colombina
San piangere, san ridere
Ma soltanto con la mascherina
Sei una marionetta che non sa neppure quel che fa
Ma se sorridi
Tutto sei per me
E vivo solo in te
La favola di Arlecchino
Arlecchino e Colombina
San piangere, san ridere
Ma soltanto con la mascherina
The lyrics of Gino Paoli's song "Maschere" tell the story of Arlecchino and Colombina, two characters from the Italian Commedia dell'arte tradition. Arlecchino is a naïve and playful servant, while Colombina is his love interest. The song describes how these characters wear masks (mascherina) to hide their true emotions and feelings.
The first verse talks about how Arlecchino and Colombina can only cry and laugh when they wear their masks. The masks become a symbol of their performance and disguise. The next verse describes Colombina's unusual purple eyes, which are described as being as strange as those of a cat. Meanwhile, Arlecchino's clothes are described as patched up, reflecting the imperfections in his life.
The chorus repeats the idea of the characters being marionettes, puppets who are unaware of their own actions. However, if Colombina smiles, everything becomes important for Arlecchino, and he lives only in her. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the idea that their emotions and actions are controlled by the mask they wear.
Overall, the lyrics of "Maschere" explore themes of illusion, deception, and the masks we wear to hide our true selves. It reflects the concept of the Commedia dell'arte, where characters embody archetypes and wear masks to perform their roles.
Line by Line Meaning
La favola di Arlecchino
The story of Arlecchino
Arlecchino e Colombina
Arlecchino and Colombina
San piangere, san ridere
Without crying, without laughing
Ma soltanto con la mascherina
But only with the mask
Hai gli occhi color lillà
You have eyes the color of lilacs
Strani come quelli di una gatta
Strange like those of a cat
Io porto un abito
I wear a dress
Rappezzato come la mia vita
Patched up like my life
Sei una marionetta che non sa neppure quel che fa
You are a puppet that does not even know what it does
Ma se sorridi
But if you smile
Tutto sei per me
You are everything to me
E vivo solo in te
And I live only in you
La favola di Arlecchino
The story of Arlecchino
Arlecchino e Colombina
Arlecchino and Colombina
San piangere, san ridere
Without crying, without laughing
Ma soltanto con la mascherina
But only with the mask
Sei una marionetta che non sa neppure quel che fa
You are a puppet that does not even know what it does
Ma se sorridi
But if you smile
Tutto sei per me
You are everything to me
E vivo solo in te
And I live only in you
La favola di Arlecchino
The story of Arlecchino
Arlecchino e Colombina
Arlecchino and Colombina
San piangere, san ridere
Without crying, without laughing
Ma soltanto con la mascherina
But only with the mask
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Gino Paoli
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind