Mia Martini (September 20, 1947 - May 12, 1995), pseudonym of Domenica Bert… Read Full Bio ↴Mia Martini (September 20, 1947 - May 12, 1995), pseudonym of Domenica Bertè, was a popular and critically acclaimed Italian singer.

Mia was born in 1947 in Bagnara Calabra (province of Reggio Calabria, southern Italy), but soon she moved to Rome with her sister (Loredana Bertè) and her friend Renato Zero. Both of them would eventually become successful singers too.

She recorded her first records as Mimì Bertè, but she soon decided to change her name to the more appealing Mia Martini.

Her biggest hits were "Piccolo Uomo", which was recorded in several languages, "Almeno tu nell'universo", which is considered her masterpiece and has been covered by several famous Italian singers including Mina and Elisa, and "Minuetto" among many others.

She represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest twice: in 1977 with "Libera (song)" (13th out of 18), and in 1992 with "Rapsodia" (4th out of 23).

Her career ended tragically in 1995 when she was found dead under mysterious circumstances in her apartment at Cardano al Campo, near Milan.

Go to complete biography at http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mia_Martini

Preghiera
Mia Martini Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Finché tramonta il sole
Finché la terra va
Tu dona o mio Signore
A chi ti chiederà
A chi non vede, gli occhi
La pace a chi non l'ha
E la speranza ai vecchi
Che vogliono restar

Ma l'uomo non capisce
E cosa fa?
Ha il mare in tasca
E l'acqua va a cercar
A chi chiede il potere
Dagliene a sazietà
E a chi denaro chiede
Dagliene a volontà
E poi dona al vigliacco
Le gambe per fuggir
E a tutti i vagabondi
Un letto per dormir
Ma l'uomo non capisce
E cosa fa?
Ha il mare in tasca
E l'acqua va a cercar

Finché tramonta il sole
Tutto puoi fare tu
E a chi chiede violenza
Tu dagliene di più
La libertà agli oppressi
Ai giusti l'umiltà
Io chiedo, solamente
Di me non ti scordar
Ma l'uomo non capisce
E cosa fa?
Ha il mare in tasca
E l'acqua va a cercar
Ma l'uomo non capisce
E cosa fa?

Ha il mare in tasca
E l'acqua va a cercar

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mia Martini's song "Preghiera" (which translates to "Prayer") convey a plea to a higher power, most likely to God. The song starts by expressing the hope that until the sun sets and the earth continues to move, the singer asks the Lord to provide for those who ask for help. They ask for peace for those who cannot see, hope for the elderly who wish to stay, and understanding for mankind in general. The lyrics point out that despite having the resources and abilities, humans often fail to comprehend their own actions. The line "Ha il mare in tasca e l'acqua va a cercar" (He carries the sea in his pocket and still seeks water) suggests that people possess the power, yet they continue to look for what they already have. As the song progresses, the plea becomes more specific, requesting power for those who desire it, wealth for the needy, and escape for the cowardly. The song concludes with a plea for freedom for the oppressed and humility for the righteous.

Line by Line Meaning

Finché tramonta il sole
As long as the sun sets

Finché la terra va
As long as the earth goes

Tu dona o mio Signore
You, my Lord, give

A chi ti chiederà
To those who ask of you

A chi non vede, gli occhi
To those who cannot see with their eyes

La pace a chi non l'ha
Peace to those who don't have it

E la speranza ai vecchi
And hope to the old

Che vogliono restar
Who want to stay

Ma l'uomo non capisce
But man does not understand

E cosa fa?
And what does he do?

Ha il mare in tasca
He has the sea in his pocket