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.
Pepino the italian mouse
Lou Monte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Find yourself another house to run around and play
You scare my girl, you eat my cheese, you even drink my wine
I try so hard to catch you but you trick me all the time
Cesta no surecillo a basoccella dinda mur
Ogna sere quella esce quanda casa scura
Endo dindo la cucina balla sulasu
Pepino suracill ana parta scubari
Managa suracill a casa ma dai
Stasira da cucina nu poco di vino ci au lasciar
A quando si briaggo a Pepino giong apa
The other night, I called my girl
I asked her could we meet
I said, "Let's go to my house
We could have a bite to eat"
And as we walked in through the door
She screamed at what she saw
There was little Pepino
Doin' the cha, cha on the floor
Pepino suracill ana parta scubari
Managa suracill a casa ma dai
Stasira da cucina nu poco di vino ci au lasciar
A quando si briaggo a Pepino giong apa
Quella non ci piace u formaggio American
Quella va trova no poca Parmesan
La fatto ghiata ghiat gusto ena cor
Quando cella camina para probino caladur
Pepino suracill ana parta scubari
Managa suracill a casa ma dai
Stasira da cucina nu poco di vino ci au lasciar
A quando si briaggo a Pepino giong apa
The lyrics to Lou Monte's song "Pepino the Italian Mouse" tell the story of the titular character, a mischievous and troublesome little mouse who frequently causes problems and steals food from the singer. Despite the singer's efforts to catch and get rid of Pepino, the clever mouse always manages to escape and continue causing trouble. The lyrics are sung in a lighthearted, humorous style, with a mix of English and Italian phrases that add to the song's playful tone.
The song's use of Italian phrases and references to Italian culture are a reflection of Lou Monte's own Italian-American background. Monte was born and raised in New York City to parents who had immigrated from Italy, and he often incorporated Italian folk songs and other cultural elements into his music. "Pepino the Italian Mouse" was one of Monte's most popular songs, and it helped to establish his reputation as a performer of lighthearted novelty songs.
Line by Line Meaning
Pepino, oh, you little mouse, oh, won't you go away
Requesting Pepino, the mouse, to leave as it keeps causing trouble
Find yourself another house to run around and play
Suggesting that Pepino should find a new place to live where it can be free to roam and play
You scare my girl, you eat my cheese, you even drink my wine
Listing the different ways in which Pepino has caused trouble for the singer by scaring his girlfriend and consuming his food and drinks
I try so hard to catch you but you trick me all the time
Expressing the artist's frustration in trying to catch Pepino, who always manages to escape
The other night, I called my girl
Narrating an incident when the artist called his girlfriend to meet him
I asked her could we meet
Asking the girlfriend if she would like to meet up
I said, 'Let's go to my house
Inviting the girlfriend to come over to his house
We could have a bite to eat'
Suggesting that they could have a meal together
And as we walked in through the door
Describing how they entered the artist's house
She screamed at what she saw
Narrating the girlfriend's reaction to seeing Pepino in the house
There was little Pepino
Referring to the mouse named Pepino
Doin' the cha, cha on the floor
Humorously suggesting that Pepino was dancing the cha-cha on the floor
Quella non ci piace u formaggio American
Indicating that the singer and his girlfriend do not like American cheese
Quella va trova no poca Parmesan
Suggesting that they prefer Parmesan cheese instead
La fatto ghiata ghiat gusto ena cor
Expressing how much they enjoy the taste of Parmesan cheese
Quando cella camina para probino caladur
Implying that they enjoy having Parmesan cheese with different food items
Pepino suracill ana parta scubari
Repeating the chorus of the song, asking Pepino to leave
Managa suracill a casa ma dai
Continuing to ask Pepino to leave as it is causing trouble at home
Stasira da cucina nu poco di vino ci au lasciar
Sharing that they had some wine together in the kitchen that same evening
A quando si briaggo a Pepino giong apa
Jokingly suggesting that even Pepino had some wine and got drunk
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RAY ALLEN, WANDRA MERRELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JerusalemCherry
I'm 37 years old now. When I used to visit my grandparents in Brooklyn NY my grandmother used to play this record for me. Now she is in her mid 90's at an old age home. I pull this song on youtube on my android phone and play it for her. Sometimes she cries but usually this old song makes her happy.
@dannyberger7501
Your 46 now,how does that feel?
@kennedylurynn7432
@@dannyberger7501 lol
@farhanfarooqi7190
Idk why Americans shove their parents in an old folks home when they get older. It makes me feel sick. I mean they take care of u from birth til they finally leave the house and bam you just drop them off at a home when they're old. Yikes....
@rosariocolucci4383
Some. People genuily have issues. I took care of my mom who had parkinsons while she was in and out of. the home where as my father needed care as a result if brain trama. 😂
@donna7507
@@dannyberger7501 61 feels even WORSE!!! 😭😫
@katiehatt1962
My fello Italians out there will for sure know this song. This brings back so much memories
@dianedandrea8601
oh yeah!!! I have the 45 on vinyl !
@bansheemania1692
@@dianedandrea8601 a 45rpm in a 65 Wurlitzer jukebox....a Name like Vitaletti is italian I am sure.....
Yup, just looked down.. I'm Italian 😂✌️🎄🥃🥃
@sarahtalley4828
Facts 🇮🇹🇮🇹🥂🥂