He was the composer of Caruso (1986), which has been covered by numerous international artists. A version of Caruso sung by Luciano Pavarotti sold over 9 million copies and the song was a track on Andrea Bocelli's first international album Romanza which has sold over 16 million albums world wide thus far; the song is a tribute to the emblematic opera tenor Enrico Caruso.
He began to play the clarinet at an early age, in a jazz band in Rome. The singer-songwriter Gino Paoli noticed Dalla's vocal qualities and suggested he attempt a solo career as an Italian soul singer. In 1964, at age 21, Dalla recorded his first 45 rpm containing "Lei (non è per me)" and "Ma questa sera". However, Dalla's debut at the Cantagiro festival in 1965 was unsuccessful probably due to his appearance and to his music, which was considered too experimental for the time. His first album, 1999, was released the following year. His next album, Terra di Gaibola (from the name of a suburb of Bologna), was released in 1970 and contained some early Dalla classics.
His first hit was "4 Marzo 1943", which garnered some success at the Sanremo Festival. Regardless of its title, the song became popularly known as "Gesu bambino". Also successful was "Piazza grande", which Dalla would sing again at Sanremo.
At this point, Dalla made a decisive move in his career, starting a collaboration with the Bolognese poet Roberto Roversi. Roversi wrote the lyrics to Dalla's next three albums Il giorno aveva cinque teste (The Day Had Five Heads) (1973), Anidride solforosa (1975) and Automobili (Automobiles) (1976) Although these albums did not sell in large numbers, they were noted by critics for the unusual mix of Roversi's weird lyrics with Dalla's improvisatory, and sometimes experimental, compositional abilities.
The duo had already broken up by the time the concept album Automobili was released. Roversi, who had been against the album's release, chose the pseudonym "Norisso" when it was time to register the songs. The album, however, included one of Dalla's most popular songs, "Nuvolari", named after the famous 1930s Italian racer.
Affected by the end of the collaboration, Dalla decided to write the lyrics of his next albums himself. This decision proved to be surprisingly good, and he soon emerged as one of the most intelligent and musically cultured of the Italian singer-songwriters. The first album of this new phase was Com'è profondo il mare (1977), in which Dalla was accompanied by some members of the future pop band Stadio. The title track or "Quale allegria" are today ranked among the best Italian songs.
Dalla's poetic inspiration was confirmed by the following albums, all entitled Lucio Dalla or Dalla and all best-sellers. They contain classics like "Anna e Marco", "L'anno che verrà", "Futura", and "Cara".
In 1979, his popularity was confirmed by the success of the Banana Republic tour and album of 1979 together with singer-songwriter Francesco De Gregori, his band, and his friend Ron.
The hit single Attenti al Lupo (1990) gave him wider success in Europe.
He was invited for duetting on Pavarotti and friends, singing his own hit "Caruso" with Luciano Pavarotti.
He died from a heart attack in 1 March 2012 while on tour at Switzerland.
Balla balla ballerino
Lucio Dalla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Non fermarti balla su una tavola fra due montagne
E se balli sulle onde del mare io ti vengo a cercare
Prendi il cielo con le mani vola in alto più degli aeroplani
Non fermarti sono pochi gli anni forse sono solo giorni
E stan finendo tutti in fretta e in fila
Non ce n'è uno che ritorni
Balla non aver paura se la notte è fredda e scura
Balla alla luce di mille sigarette e di una luna
Che ti illumina a giorno balla il mistero
Di questo mondo che brucia in fretta quello che ieri era vero
Dammi retta non sarà vero domani
Ferma con quelle tue mani il treno Palermo-Francoforte
Per la mia commozione c'è una ragazza al finestrino
Gli occhi verdi che sembrano di vetro
Corri e ferma quel treno fallo tornare indietro
Balla anche per tutti i violenti veloci di mano e coi coltelli
Accidenti se capissero vedendoti ballare di essere
Morti da sempre anche se possono respirare
Vola e balla sul cuore malato illuso sconfitto poi abbandonato
Senza amore dell'uomo che confonde la luna con il sole
Senza avere coltelli in mano ma nel suo povero cuore
Allora vieni angelo benedetto prova a mettere i piedi sul suo petto
E stancarti a ballare al ritmo del motore ed alle grandi parole
Di una canzone canzone d'amore ecco il mistero
Sotto un cielo di ferro e di gesso l'uomo riesce ad amare lo stesso
Ama davvero senza nessuna certezza
Che commozione che tenerezza
The song "Balla balla ballerino" by Lucio Dalla has a very simple yet compelling message: to keep dancing through life, no matter how hard or uncertain things may seem. The song encourages the listener to dance all night and all day, to fly higher than airplanes and to take the world by storm.
The lyrics speak to the power of dance as a healing and transformative force. By dancing, the singer suggests, we can transcend our fears and our doubts, and become one with the rhythms of the universe. We can find joy, meaning, and purpose in life, even in the face of adversity.
The song is also one of hope and redemption. The singer urges the listener to keep moving forward, to never give up, and to keep believing in themselves and their dreams. In the final verses, the song becomes a prayer for those who are struggling and suffering, and a reminder that even in a world of darkness and chaos, there is always the possibility for beauty, love, and grace.
Overall, "Balla balla ballerino" is a powerful and uplifting song that celebrates the human spirit and its ability to triumph over adversity through the transformative power of dance.
Line by Line Meaning
Balla balla ballerino tutta la notte e al mattino
Dance, dance, dancer all night and in the morning
Non fermarti balla su una tavola fra due montagne
Don't stop dancing on a board between two mountains
E se balli sulle onde del mare io ti vengo a cercare
And if you dance on the waves of the sea, I'll come looking for you
Prendi il cielo con le mani vola in alto più degli aeroplani
Take the sky in your hands, fly higher than airplanes
Non fermarti sono pochi gli anni forse sono solo giorni
Don't stop, the years are few, maybe they're just days
E stan finendo tutti in fretta e in fila
And they're all ending quickly and in a line
Non ce n'è uno che ritorni
No one comes back
Balla non aver paura se la notte è fredda e scura
Dance without fear if the night is cold and dark
Non pensare alla pistola che hai puntato contro
Don't think about the gun you pointed at
Balla alla luce di mille sigarette e di una luna
Dance in the light of a thousand cigarettes and a moon
Che ti illumina a giorno balla il mistero
That illuminates you in the day, dance the mystery
Di questo mondo che brucia in fretta quello che ieri era vero
Of this world that burns quickly what was true yesterday
Dammi retta non sarà vero domani
Believe me, it won't be true tomorrow
Ferma con quelle tue mani il treno Palermo-Francoforte
Stop the Palermo-Frankfurt train with your hands
Per la mia commozione c'è una ragazza al finestrino
For my emotion, there is a girl at the window
Gli occhi verdi che sembrano di vetro
Green eyes that seem like glass
Corri e ferma quel treno fallo tornare indietro
Run and stop that train, make it go back
Balla anche per tutti i violenti veloci di mano e coi coltelli
Dance for all the violent ones, quick with their hands and knives
Accidenti se capissero vedendoti ballare di essere
Damn if they understood, seeing you dance to be
Morti da sempre anche se possono respirare
Dead forever even if they can breathe
Vola e balla sul cuore malato illuso sconfitto poi abbandonato
Fly and dance on the sick heart, deluded, defeated, then abandoned
Senza amore dell'uomo che confonde la luna con il sole
Without the love of the man who confuses the moon with the sun
Senza avere coltelli in mano ma nel suo povero cuore
Without having knives, but in his poor heart
Allora vieni angelo benedetto prova a mettere i piedi sul suo petto
So come, blessed angel, try to put your feet on his chest
E stancarti a ballare al ritmo del motore ed alle grandi parole
And tire yourself out by dancing to the rhythm of the engine and the big words
Di una canzone canzone d'amore ecco il mistero
Of a love song, here's the mystery
Sotto un cielo di ferro e di gesso l'uomo riesce ad amare lo stesso
Under a sky of iron and plaster, man still manages to love
Ama davvero senza nessuna certezza
He loves truly without any certainty
Che commozione che tenerezza
What emotion, what tenderness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LUCIO DALLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind