Volare
Gus Levene Lyrics

The lyrics of Gus Levene's song "Volare" paint a picture of two lovers flying away from the chaos and confusion of the world to a peaceful and serene place. The repetition of "Volare" and "Cantare" (meaning "to fly" and "to sing" respectively in Italian) create a whimsical and carefree atmosphere that captures the essence of the flight. The first verse invites the listener to join the lovers in flight to a place where they can sing and be at peace, in the light of a reassuring star. The second verse reflects on the transformative power of love, which has given the singer wings to soar high above the world. The line "Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu" (meaning "I painted my hands and face blue") is an allusion to the ancient Maori tribe who would paint themselves blue to fly (not literally of course) into battle.

The chorus "Nel blu dipinto di blu", which translates to "In the blue painted blue sky", is Italian songwriter Domenico Modugno's metaphor for the blue, dreamy sky. In its original recording (in Italian), the song won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1958, and then went on to win Modugno a Grammy Award for "Record of the Year" and "Song of the Year" in both 1958 and 1959, making it the first Grammy to be awarded to a foreign language song. The song has been covered by many artists and has become a classic in the pop canon, including the English version, titled "Fly With Me", which is considered to be one of the most memorable recordings of the 1950s.