Ciribiribin
Harry James & His Orchestra Feat. Frank Sinatra Lyrics
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There's a handsome gondolier
Every night he sings so happily
So his lady love can hear
In a manner oh gravissimo
He repeats his serenade,
And his heart beats so fortissimo
When she raises her Venetian shade
Ciribiribin, chiribiribin, ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, he waits for her each night beneath her balcony
Ciribiribin, he begs to hold her tight, but no, she won't agree
Ciribiribin, she throws a rose and blows a kiss from up above
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love
(Orchestral Interlude)
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love
The song Ciribiribin by Harry James and His Orchestra featuring Frank Sinatra is a romantic tune that tells the story of a gondolier who, every night, serenades his lady love in Naples. The gondolier sings with great passion and intensity, hoping that the woman he loves will hear him from her balcony. He waits patiently for her, hoping that she will come down to be with him, but she always refuses. Instead, she throws a rose and blows a kiss from above.
The lyrics describe the gondolier's deep love for the woman and his unwavering commitment to her, despite her indifference towards him. The repeated refrain of "Ciribiribin" adds to the romantic tone of the song, with the word being an onomatopoeic representation of the sound of the gondolier's mandolin. The orchestral interlude adds to the romantic atmosphere, evoking images of the gondolier and his lady love floating down the canals of Naples under the moonlight.
Overall, the lyrics of Ciribiribin evoke feelings of love, passion, and longing. It tells the story of a man who is deeply in love with a woman who doesn't reciprocate his feelings, but he continues to hold on to hope and sing to her every night.
Line by Line Meaning
When the moon hangs low in Napoli
During the night in Naples, Italy when the moon is in the sky
There's a handsome gondolier
There is an attractive boatman
Every night he sings so happily
Every evening he joyfully sings
So his lady love can hear
So his beloved can listen to him
In a manner oh gravissimo
In a very serious manner
He repeats his serenade,
He sings the same musical composition again
And his heart beats so fortissimo
His heart rapidly and loudly beats
When she raises her Venetian shade
When his lover lifts the Venetian window covering
Ciribiribin, he waits for her each night beneath her balcony
He constantly waits for her every night under her balcony
Ciribiribin, he begs to hold her tight, but no, she won't agree
He pleads to embrace her closely, but she refuses
Ciribiribin, she throws a rose and blows a kiss from up above
She throws a flower and sends a kiss from higher above
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they are deeply enraptured with each other
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: HOWARD E JOHNSON, ALBERTO PESTALOZZA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AllMy78s
Thanks for the link Al... :)
@OldiesAl
Did you get the instrumental link from this too?
@AllMy78s
@@ferrarial No.??
@OldiesAl
@@AllMy78s it's in the description, wait I'll put it here for you https://youtu.be/Y9kjw_EcC5A?si=crQQMFrK-jG2KzmE
@Musicradio77Network
Good version of this classic. I have this on a US 78 and the LP that I got yesterday called “The Frank Sinatra Story in Music”, and it was double LP from the late 1950’s featuring many of his classics from his Columbia period during the 1940’s.
This song was first as a instrumental hit, and then, he stepped in and added the words and making it as a vocal version.
One interesting fact that I have never seen this inner groove looked weird. Every Columbia 78 from the early 1940’s had the weird inner groove pattern and it looks kinda strange. I have a few of them that had a weird inner groove pattern.
@OldiesAl
I also have Harry's instrumental version posted, I have a few Columbia's from this era but never noticed the inner groove on them, I thought it was because this was a Swiss pressing, I'll have to keep an eye out for others
@IVORIESMAN
First time I've heard words with this Al - turns it into a completely different number. Good for Frank but not quite so for Harry I fear.
@OldiesAl
Harry's original is easily the best, this doesn't let that exuberance out. He must have thought enough of Frank to record it again only a few months later with him.