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.
volare
Lou Monte Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu
Poi d'improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito
Volare, oh oh...
Cantare, ohohoho...
Nel blu dipinto di blu
E volavo, volavo felice
Più in alto del sole ed ancora più su
Mentre il mondo pian piano spariva, lontano laggiù
Una musica dolce suonava soltanto per me
Volare, oh oh...
Cantare, ohohoho...
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
Ma tutti i sogni nell'alba svaniscono perché
Quando tramonta, la luna li porta con sé
Ma io continuo a sognare negli occhi tuoi belli
Che sono blu come un cielo trapunto di stelle
Volare, oh oh...
Cantare, ohohoho...
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
Felice di stare quaggiù
E continuo a volare felice
Più in alto del sole ed ancora più su
Mentre il mondo pian piano scompare negli occhi tuoi blu
La tua voce è una musica dolce che suona per me
Volare, oh oh...
Cantare, ohohoho...
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
Felice di stare quaggiù
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
Felice di stare quaggiù con te
The lyrics of Lou Monte's "Volare" tell a story of a dream that takes the singer to incredible heights. He paints his hands and face blue and suddenly finds himself swept away by the wind, soaring into the boundless sky. The chorus opens with "Volare," which translates to "I'm flying," followed by "Cantare," or "I'm singing," which emphasizes the freedom and joy in his experience. He revels in the happiness of being up there in the blue, but eventually, he realizes that dreams vanish with the rising sun.
As the dream world fades away, the singer finds solace in the blue eyes of his lover. Her eyes are compared to a star-studded sky, and her voice is a soothing melody that plays just for him. He continues to fly higher than the sun, disappearing into her gaze. The final verse ends with him singing about how happy he is to stay down below with her, with the blue of her eyes as their eternal sky.
The lyrics of "Volare" embody a sense of wonder, freedom, and the power of love. The soaring imagery emphasizes the beauty and magic of dreams, and how they can transport us to incredible heights. It's a love song that is both romantic and whimsical, evoking a sense of childlike joy and wonder.
Line by Line Meaning
Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più
I think that a dream like this will never return again
Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu
I painted my hands and face blue
Poi d'improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
Then suddenly, I was carried away by the wind
E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito
And I began to fly in the endless sky
Volare, oh oh...
Cantare, ohohoho...
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù
Flying, oh oh...
Singing, ohohoho...
In the blue painted blue
Happy to be up there
Ma tutti i sogni nell'alba svaniscono perché
Quando tramonta, la luna li porta con sé
But all dreams vanish at dawn because
When the moon sets, it takes them with it
Ma io continuo a sognare negli occhi tuoi belli
Che sono blu come un cielo trapunto di stelle
But I continue to dream in your beautiful eyes
That are blue like a sky adorned with stars
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
Felice di stare quaggiù
In the blue of your blue eyes
Happy to be down here
E continuo a volare felice
Più in alto del sole ed ancora più su
Mentre il mondo pian piano scompare negli occhi tuoi blu
La tua voce è una musica dolce che suona per me
And I continue to fly happily
Higher than the sun and even higher
While the world slowly disappears in your blue eyes
Your voice is a sweet music that plays for me
Contributed by Caleb R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Donna
on Pepino's Friend Pasqual (The Italian Pussy-cat)
What is and how do you spell catoblasama spelling I know is wrong