Massimo Ranieri (name in art of Giovanni Calone), Italian is a pop singer, … Read Full Bio ↴Massimo Ranieri (name in art of Giovanni Calone), Italian is a pop singer, a film and a stage actor, as well as a show-business personality. He was born in Naples (at Santa Lucia) on May 3, 1951.

One of the most popular entertainers in Italy today, he came to the knowledge of the public by winning two editions of the Canzonissima song festival in 1970 and 1972 with "L'Amore È Un Attimo" and "Chi Sarà", and by representing Italy in the Eurovision song contest in 1971 in which he ended up 5th with "L'Amore È Un Attimo", as well as in 1973 when he ended 13th with Chi sara con te. In 1988 he won the San Remo Festival with song "Perdere l'amore", which became one of his greatest hits. He is a constant presence on Italian TV as singer and master of ceremonies. He co-starred in the movie "La Sciantosa" with Anna Magnani. Recently, his CD, "Oggi o dimane" —renditions of his native Neapolitan songs set to North African instrumentation—has had a great success.

Probably his most popular disc was "Rose rosse" which featured his hits "Rose "rosse and "Quando l'amore diventa poesia".

Agata
Massimo Ranieri Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Io mme metto 'o steccadente in bocca
Pe' nun fumá...
Nun ce veco e nun mm'accatto 'e llente
Pe' sparagná...
Vivo solo col mensile
D'impiegato comunale,
Spacco 'a lira, spacco 'o soldo,
Spacco pure 'o "duje centè'"...

E tu invece te la intendi
Col padrone di un caffè?!

Agata!
Tu mi capisci!
Agata!
Tu mi tradisci!
Agata!
Guarda! Stupisci...
Ch'è ridotto quest'uomo per te!

Mm'accattaje nu cappelluccio tuosto
Tre anne fa...
E, 'a tre anne, 'o tengo sempe 'ncapa...
Nun c'è che fá...
Stu vestito grigio scuro,
S'è cambiato di colore...
Mo s'è fatto verde chiaro:
Era n'abito 'e papá...
E mm'ha ditto 'o cusetore:
"Nun 'o pòzzo arrevutá:
Ll'aggio troppo arrevutato...
Ve cunziglio do jettá...."

Agata!
Tu mi capisci!
Agata!
Tu mi tradisci!
Agata!
Guarda! Stupisci...
Ch'è ridotto quest'uomo per te!

Ho ridotto il pasto giornaliero,
Sempre per te...
'A matina, nu bicchiere d'acqua...
Senza cafè!
Vèngo â casa e nun te trovo,
'o purtiere tene 'a chiave:
- Dov'è andata? -
- A' sala 'e ballo! -
Mi commuovo...e penzo che
Te facive 'a partetella,
Tutte ssere, 'nziem'a me...
Mo mme faccio...'o sulitario,
Guardo in cielo e penzo a te!

Agata!
Tu mi capisci!
Agata!
Tu mi tradisci!
Agata!

Guarda! Stupisci...
Ch'è ridotto quest'uomo per te!

Overall Meaning

The song "Agata" by Massimo Ranieri is a desperate cry of a man who feels lost and trapped in his love for Agata. The lyrics describe the singer's loneliness and financial difficulties, as he struggles to make ends meet while Agata seems to be thriving. He laments having to resort to smoking cheap cigarettes and not being able to afford new glasses just to save money. He compares his meager life as a municipal employee to Agata's seemingly successful relationship with a coffee shop owner. The singer feels betrayed by Agata, who seems to not understand his struggles and take advantage of him, causing him to be reduced to a shell of his former self.

The singer's longing for Agata is clear in the lyrics, as he talks about his hat and suit changes and his daily routine just to keep up with her expectations. His desperation is heightened by the fact that he can't find her at home when he comes back from work and the only place left for her to be was the dance hall. He imagines himself as a lonely man thinking of her while looking at the stars. Ranieri's emotive delivery of the lyrics captures the sense of heartbreak and despair that the singer feels throughout the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Io mme metto 'o steccadente in bocca Pe' nun fumá...
I put a toothpick in my mouth So as not to smoke...

Nun ce veco e nun mm'accatto 'e llente Pe' sparagná...
I don't see and don't buy glasses To save money...

Vivo solo col mensile D'impiegato comunale, Spacco 'a lira, spacco 'o soldo, Spacco pure 'o "duje centè'"...
I live only with my monthly salary As a municipal worker, Breaking the lira, breaking the penny, Breaking the 20 cents too...

E tu invece te la intendi Col padrone di un caffè?!
And instead you get along with The owner of a cafe?!

Mm'accattaje nu cappelluccio tuosto Tre anne fa...
Three years ago, I bought a sturdy hat...

'A tre anne, 'o tengo sempe 'ncapa... Nun c'è che fá...
After three years, I still wear it... There is nothing to be done...

Stu vestito grigio scuro, S'è cambiato di colore... Mo s'è fatto verde chiaro: Era n'abito 'e papá...
This dark grey suit Has changed color... Now it has become light green: It used to be my father's suit...

E mm'ha ditto 'o cusetore: "Nun 'o pòzzo arrevutá: Ll'aggio troppo arrevutato... Ve cunziglio d'i jettá...."
And the tailor told me: "I can't alter it anymore: I've already changed it too much... I advise you to throw it away...."

Ho ridotto il pasto giornaliero, Sempre per te... 'A matina, nu bicchiere d'acqua... Senza cafè!
I've reduced my daily meals, Always for you... In the morning, only a glass of water... Without coffee!

Vèngo â casa e nun te trovo, 'o purtiere tene 'a chiave: - Dov'è andata? - - A' sala 'e ballo! - Mi commuovo...e penzo che Te facive 'a partetella, Tutt'e ssere, 'nziem'a me... Mo mme faccio...'o sulitario, Guardo in cielo e penzo a te!
I come home and don't find you, The porter has the key: - Where did she go? - - To the dance hall! - I get emotional... and I think that You used to dance with me every night... Now I become a loner, I look at the sky and think of you!

Agata! Tu mi capisci! Agata! Tu mi tradisci! Agata! Guarda! Stupisci... Ch'è ridotto quest'uomo per te!
Agata! You understand me! Agata! You betray me! Agata! Look! It's astonishing... How this man is reduced to nothing for you!

Contributed by Charlie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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