Ciribiribin
Harry James Orchestra Lyrics


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When the moon hangs low in Napoli, 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.




(musical interlude)
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Harry James's song Ciribiribin tell the tale of a gondolier in Naples who serenades his lady love every night from beneath her balcony. The moon hangs low in the sky and the gondolier sings with a cheerful voice to his beloved, hoping that she'll hear his song of love. He sings his serenade in a manner that is solemn, and repeats it each night with a beating heart, waiting for her to appear. Her heart beats strongly in response to his music when she raises her Venetian shade.


Despite the gondolier's impressively romantic gestures, his love for the lady has not yet been reciprocated. He waits for her beneath her balcony each night, and begs to hold her tight, but she won't agree. Finally, the lady throws a rose to the gondolier and blows a kiss from above, signifying that there is still hope for their love story. The two are deeply in love, and their love is conveyed through the Italian term "Ciribiribin."


Overall, the lyrics evoke a sense of romance, passion, and longing, depicted through the timeless act of serenading someone beneath their balcony. The gondolier's persistence in expressing his love and devotion to his lady love is admirable, and the lady's eventual response shows that true love will find a way.


Line by Line Meaning

When the moon hangs low in Napoli, there's a handsome gondolier,
At night, in the beautiful city of Napoli, a good-looking gondolier takes his boat along the canals.


Every night he sings so happily, so his lady love can hear.
Every night, he sings joyfully, hoping his beloved can hear him.


In a manner oh gravissimo, he repeats his serenade,
He sings his sweet and touching serenade in a serious and heavy manner.


And his heart beats so fortissimo, when she raises her Venetian shade.
His heart beats strongly and loudly when she opens the Venetian blind to acknowledge his serenade.


Ciribiribin, chiribiribin, ciribiribin.
These are nonsensical words that the gondolier sings to bring a nice melody to his serenade.


Ciribiribin, he waits for her each night beneath her balcony.
The gondolier waits for her every night beneath her balcony, singing his heart out in the hope of capturing her love.


Ciribiribin, he begs to hold her tight, but no, she won't agree.
He begs her to hold him tight, but she refuses to come down from her balcony.


Ciribiribin, she throws a rose and blows a kiss from up above,
Finally, she throws a rose and blows a kiss from above, showing her admiration for the sung serenade.


Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love.
These nonsensical words end the song, indicating how in love the couple is despite their unrequited longing for each other.


(musical interlude)
This is a pause in the song where only the instrumental music plays and no singing occurs.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, LES NOUVELLES EDITIONS MERIDIAN
Written by: EDGAR CARVER, ALBERTO PESTALOZZA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@roypeaslee1305

Harry James way of introducing classical music to teens of the time. From 3/4 time to jazzed up music. I loved it.

@orangspiralysis9774

was this piece a jazzed up classical piece?

@christophercanzoneri2962

​@@orangspiralysis9774No. This was a popular song from the Italian Tin Pan Alley in Naples.

@jeffdawson2786

Harry burns it up, man. I have a feeling Louis Armstrong dug this record.

@marcbollaert9982

SUPER !!!!!!

@lawrencephelps3181

Wow! Can cut a rug to that!

@rorydillon7572

Hot as Hell.

@Joshster-si6ov

Heck yes

@paulmurray5655

He was fancier than Berigan but not as inventive. Still, one of the greatest horns ever to grace Mother Earth. This is the essence of swing; it brings tears to my eyes. Best always. PM

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