Santa Lucia Luntana
Mario Frangoulis Lyrics


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Partono 'e bastimente
pe' terre assaje luntane...
cántano a buordo:
só' Napulitane!
Cantano pe' tramente
'o golfo giá scumpare,
e 'a luna, 'a miez'ô mare,
nu poco 'e Napule
lle fa vedé...

Santa Lucia!
Luntano 'a te,
quanta malincunia!
Se gira 'o munno sano,
se va a cercá furtuna...
ma, quanno sponta 'a luna,
luntano 'a Napule
nun se pò stá!

Santa Lucia, tu tiene
sulo nu poco 'e mare...
ma, cchiù luntana staje,
cchiù bella pare...
E' 'o canto d"e Ssirene
ca tesse ancora 'e rrezze!
Core nun vò' ricchezze:
si è nato a Napule,
ce vò' murí!

Santa Lucia!
Luntano 'a te,
quanta malincunia!
Se gira 'o munno sano,
se va a cercá furtuna...
ma, quanno sponta 'a luna,
luntano 'a Napule
nun se pò stá!

Santa Lucia,
Luntano 'a te,
quanta malincunia!

Overall Meaning

In Mario Frangoulis's song "Santa Lucia Luntana," the singer is singing about a group of sailors who are leaving Naples and heading to far-off lands. They sing at the top of their lungs that they are from Naples and are proud of it. Even though they are far away from home, they see the moon shining bright in the middle of the sea, and it reminds them of their beloved city. They sing to the distant Santa Lucia, recognizing the beauty of the sea but feeling a deep sense of homesickness because of the distance between them.


The singer then directly addresses Santa Lucia, saying that she is only a little bit of the sea, but the farther she is from Naples, the more beautiful she appears. The song then switches to talking about the siren song that still weaves its spell around the sailors, even though they are far from home. They sing about how the heart doesn't want riches, only to be born and die in Naples.


Overall, "Santa Lucia Luntana" is a poignant tribute to the longing that comes from being far away from home. Despite the beauty of the moon, the sea, and the siren song, there is always a fundamental sense of loss and sorrow that can only be lifted by returning home to Naples.


Line by Line Meaning

Partono 'e bastimente pe' terre assaje luntane...
Ships depart for faraway lands...


cántano a buordo: só' Napulitane!
Those aboard sing proudly: we're Neapolitan!


Cantano pe' tramente o golfo giá scumpare,
They sing nostalgically for the already lost Gulf,


e 'a luna, 'a miez'ô mare, nu poco 'e Napule lle fa vedé...
and the moon, in the middle of the sea, reminds them a bit of Naples...


Santa Lucia! Luntano 'a te, quanta malincunia!
Oh Saint Lucy! Being far from you, what melancholy!


Se gira 'o munno sano, se va a cercá furtuna...
If the healthy world turns, people go in search of fortune...


ma, quanno sponta 'a luna, luntano 'a Napule nun se pò stá!
but when the moon rises, one can't stay away from Naples!


Santa Lucia, tu tiene sulo nu poco 'e mare...
Oh Saint Lucy, you only have a bit of sea...


ma, cchiù luntana staje, cchiù bella pare...
but the further away you are, the more beautiful you appear...


E' 'o canto d"e Ssirene ca tesse ancora 'e rrezze!
It's the siren's song that still weaves its nets!


Core nun vò' ricchezze: si è nato a Napule, ce vò' murí!
The heart doesn't want riches: If one is born in Naples, there wants to die!


Santa Lucia! Luntano 'a te, quanta malincunia!
Oh Saint Lucy! Being far from you, what melancholy!




Contributed by Carter E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@johnblasiak2499

Beautiful voice for sure

@IvonedaLuz

Grazie mille...per Questo Meraviglioso video! Bella & Infinita voice !!! Lovely!!!

@stefanociarambino7403

@missrock98 I love you already! Thank you for sharing this wonderful song with such an admirable interpretation by Mario Frangoulis. I'm away from Napoli too these days and I really feel this song. Goose bumps! 💆🏽‍♂️ 😩 💙 🔜 🔙 🇮🇹 🌋 🍝 🍕 🌶 🍷

@napejack

beautiful Mario, song, video, thanks

@gabbib55

Beautiful everything! Thank you!

@birgitteprger6841

Lovely song and voice...

@vulcanswork

Mario, sei veramente bravo

@alfonsoramosmansino38

Preciosa orquestación!

@thionisiaful

Thank you for this beautiful video!

@eugenia_b73

H τελεια φωνη!!! ♥

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