Born in Sassuolo, in the Province of Modena and belonging to a working class family, when he was 4 he suffered of poliomyelitis and he lost the use of his legs. He started his singing career at the end of 1973, with the album Rosso colore dell'amore and one year later with the self-produced album Roca Blues. One of his most famous albums was the 1979 "A muso duro".
Married to Bruna, he had 3 sons, Emiliano, Petra and Alberto, also a singer.
In 1990 he worked with Elio e le Storie Tese, and in 1991 with Tazenda. In 1992 he took part in the Sanremo Music Festival.
Bertoli died in Modena on October 7, 2002.
Come Eravamo
Pierangelo Bertoli Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coi vestiti spesso smessi da qualcuno
Col sogno di un futuro e tanta voglia di cambiare
E la promessa di smettere presto di farci sfruttare
Tu non ricordi più come sei stato
Con le valigie quasi pronte per partire
Col passaporto in mano e una fortuna da trovare
Come nemico una lingua straniera che non sai parlare
Non vorrei doverlo dire ma hai fallito tu
Tu non ricordi più dove eravamo
In quelle piazze cercavamo di contare
quando la dignità di essere uomo era un valore
Mescolavamo parole di rabbia e pensieri d'amore
Tu non ricordi più come eravamo
Lungo la strada cantavamo all'avvenire la solidarietà,
grido comune dell'umanità
Di tanti popoli in lotta feroce per la libertà
Non hai tempo per pensare, non hai tempo più
Non vorrei doverlo dire ma hai fallito tu
Tu non ricordi più come sei stato, dalla tua torre non ti frega di nessuno
Con le tue mani in mano stare con quelli votati a scappare
E non avere nemmeno un amico e più niente da dare…
Tu non ricordi più…
The Pierangelo Bertoli's song "Come Eravamo" talks about the loss of memories of how they once were. The song starts with "Tu non ricordi più come eravamo" which means "You don't remember how we were anymore." The lyrics narrate how they used to be, with clothes given to them by others and dreams of a better future. There was a promise to stop being exploited, and they were ready to leave with their passports in hand to find their fortune, even though they did not know the foreign language. They believed in the value of dignity and humanity, which they expressed in speeches and songs along the way. They believed in solidarity and the common cry for freedom for all nations in fierce struggle. The song accuses someone of forgetting their past and failing to stand with the people they once shared the same struggle.
The song has a poignant tone, reflecting on personal and collective pasts, which seems to be lost in time. By using the accusatory "hai fallito tu" ("you have failed") and "dalla tua torre non ti frega di nessuno" ("you don't care about anyone from your tower"), Bertoli makes a stark and critical statement about those who fail to stand with others in similar situations. The song teaches us the importance of remembering the struggles we face and supporting others in their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Tu non ricordi più come eravamo
You don't remember how we were
Coi vestiti spesso smessi da qualcuno
With clothes often given by someone else
Col sogno di un futuro e tanta voglia di cambiare
With a dream of a future and a strong desire to change
E la promessa di smettere presto di farci sfruttare
And the promise to stop being exploited soon
Tu non ricordi più come sei stato
You don't remember how you were
Con le valigie quasi pronte per partire
With the suitcases almost ready to leave
Col passaporto in mano e una fortuna da trovare
With a passport in hand and a fortune to find
Come nemico una lingua straniera che non sai parlare
With a foreign language you don't know how to speak as an enemy
Non hai tempo per pensare, non hai tempo più
You don't have time to think, you don't have time anymore
Non vorrei doverlo dire ma hai fallito tu
I wouldn't want to say it, but you have failed
Tu non ricordi più dove eravamo
You don't remember where we were
In quelle piazze cercavamo di contare
In those squares we tried to make a difference
quando la dignità di essere uomo era un valore
When the dignity of being a man was a value
Mescolavamo parole di rabbia e pensieri d'amore
We mixed words of anger and thoughts of love
Tu non ricordi più come eravamo
You don't remember how we were
Lungo la strada cantavamo all'avvenire la solidarietà,
Along the road we sang solidarity for the future
grido comune dell'umanità
a common cry of humanity
Di tanti popoli in lotta feroce per la libertà
Of many peoples fighting fiercely for freedom
Tu non hai tempo per pensare, non hai tempo più
You don't have time to think, you don't have time anymore
Non vorrei doverlo dire ma hai fallito tu
I wouldn't want to say it, but you have failed
Tu non ricordi più come sei stato, dalla tua torre non ti frega di nessuno
You don't remember how you were, from your tower you don't care about anyone
Con le tue mani in mano stare con quelli votati a scappare
Holding your hands with those who are destined to run away
E non avere nemmeno un amico e più niente da dare…
And not even having a friend and nothing left to give...
Tu non ricordi più…
You don't remember anymore...
Contributed by Isabella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
aw728dl
L'amaro sdegno quando chi voleva cambiara il mondo al tuo fianco si adagia nel potere.
Ivan Caliendo
Un Po come quando si rinnegano origini povertà e fame passata.