Monte's first big hit came in 1954, with the release of his version of "Darktown Strutters' Ball." In 1962, Monte would release his first million-seller, "Pepino, the Italian Mouse." Sung in a pastiche of both Neapolitan and English, "Pepino" tells the humorous tale of a mischievous mouse who lives within the walls of a man's kitchen and who comes out at night to eat cheese, drink wine, frighten Lou's girlfriend when she comes over and befriends the cat, sent out to catch him.
The "flip side" of the single featured another Italian-American hybrid novelty song called "What Did Washington Say (When He Crossed The Delaware?)." The song presumes that George Washington was cold, tired, hungry and without a change of underwear on his famous trip. At one point in the song, "Washington" complains that the pizzas his wife Martha baked were as "cold as ice." His solution? "Sell them to the Indians for only half the price." He then asks his boatsmen to row faster because "tonight I'm posing for my picture on the dollar bill."
Monte's other famous novelty records include 'Dominick the Donkey', a holiday staple in many Italian-American households and "Pasquale, the Italian Pussycat," the sequel to "Pepino."
After his death his son continued to sing his songs in concert for some time.
He contributed to the founding of the Lou Monte, Jr. leukemia laboratory at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in memory of his son who died of the disease at age 21.
Luna Luna Luna
Lou Monte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She answered back, "I am not able"
"Lazy Mary you better get up
We need the sheets for the table"
"Lazy Mary you smoke in bed
There's only one man you should marry
My advice to you would be
Is to pay attention to me"
Go and come sempr's la pompa a mano tiene
C'e na luna mezza'o mare
Mammamiam'ho maritari
Figlia mia a cu t'ho dare?
Mama mia penscitu
Se ti piglia lu pisciaolo
Tssu vai, issu viene
Sempre lu peace a muno tiene
Se c'in gappa la fantasia ti pomperia figgiuzza mia
La lario la pisci fritt'e baccala
Oeh cumpa, na pompina ci haggia catta
Cenata o cumma ca mi voglio marita
Dammi na vagliotta ca mi voglio marita HEY
The song Luna Mezzo Mare by Lou Monte is a catchy, upbeat Italian-American song that was first released in 1954. In the first verse, the singer is addressing a woman named Lazy Mary, who is still in bed and refusing to get up. He tells her that they need the sheets from the table and advises her that she should only marry a fireman who can "come and go." The chorus of the song is in Italian and translates to "There's a moon on the halfway to the sea, oh my mama will get married. My daughter, who will you give yourself to? Oh my mama, think about it."
The second verse continues the theme of advising the listener on who to marry. The singer suggests that Lazy Mary should marry a fisherman because he is always coming and going like the fireman, and he has a strong arm from pulling in fishing nets ("sempre lu peace a muno tiene"). The song then ends with a call to action for the listener to give the singer some money because he wants to get married.
Overall, the lyrics to Luna Mezzo Mare are light-hearted and humorous, with a focus on advising the listener on the best type of man to marry. The chorus in Italian adds an air of mystery and romance to the song, a theme that is continued with the mention of fish and seafood dishes at the end of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Lazy Mary you better get up
Mary, it's time to wake up and start your day
She answered back, "I am not able"
Mary replied saying that she's not capable of waking up
"Lazy Mary you better get up
We need the sheets for the table"
Mary is being told again to wake up because they need the sheets for the table
"Lazy Mary you smoke in bed
There's only one man you should marry
My advice to you would be
Is to pay attention to me"
Mary is advised to stop smoking in bed and is told that she should marry a fireman, with the advice coming from someone who thinks they know best
"You better marry a fireman he'll come and go,
Go and come sempr's la pompa a mano tiene"
The advice continues, suggesting that marrying a fireman will be beneficial because he'll always have to leave to work his job, which involves a hand pump
C'e na luna mezza'o mare
There's a half moon over the sea
Mammamiam'ho maritari
Oh my mamma, I want to get married
Figlia mia a cu t'ho dare?
My daughter, who do I give you to?
Mama mia penscitu
Mamma mia, think about it
Se ti piglia lu pisciaolo
Tssu vai, issu viene
Sempre lu peace a muno tiene
If you marry a fisherman, you'll always have him coming and going, with his fishing net always in his hand
Se c'in gappa la fantasia ti pomperia figgiuzza mia
If you have any imagination, my little girl, you'll enjoy life more
La lario la pisci fritt'e baccala
Oeh cumpa, na pompina ci haggia catta
Let's have some fried and salted fish, my friend, and let's find a hand pump
Cenata o cumma ca mi voglio marita
Dinner or lunch, because I want to get married
Dammi na vagliotta ca mi voglio marita HEY
Give me some money because I want to get married, hey!
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Lou Monte, Paolo Citarella
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Pontiacman1964
My favorite movie of all time. Summer of 1984 and I was in the Air Force stationed right next door in New Jersey. I’ve been humming this song for 40 years now 😊
@chrisebert7989
the aerobics scene was very underrated in this movie....
@chrisebert7989
the look on Pauley's face is priceless
@lennyrossi54
Nice movie nice song!!! Went ta see in my neighborhood!!!! 1984 SOUTHBROOKLYN!!!!!!!...When Their Was ONE!!!!🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🇮🇹🦏🦍🐘🐬🐳🦈🐅🐆🐊
@Trapshitkalci
fuckin love thiz movie ! thank you for thiz edit :)
@olgajakovleva5344
Микки Рурк - самый красивый и сексуальный мужчина на планете!!!
@stj971
Was
@snejanakazaku4360
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@theirishshowman
How come the speed is wrong? it's like the record player was put on the wrong speed.
@edwardbroody7385
Yeah, great song & great movie but....