Daniele was born to a low class family, his father being a port worker. A self-taught guitarist, he began his career as a musician playing for other successful singers of 1970s.
His striking debut in the Italian music world was in 1977 with the album Terra mia, which proved to be a successful mix of Neapolitan tradition and Blues sounds. Daniele defined his music with the term "taramblu", which indicated a mix of tarantella, blues and rumba. Lyrics also attracted critical praise: written and sung in an intense Neapolitan, they contained a strong though bitter accusation against the social injustices of Naples, as well as Italian society in general, as well as melanchonic personal themes. Several of the later songs will be characterized by a free intermingling of English, American and Neapolitan language passages.
Daniele's talent was confirmed in the following Pino Daniele of 1979. He scored his greatest success in 1980, with Nero a metà ("Half-Black Skinned"), which was marked by some authorities as the hallmark for the re-birth of Neapolitan song. In that year Daniele opened Bob Marley's concert in the San Siro stadium of Milan. In 1981 Vai Mo was released. Widely praised in his albums was also the presence as session men of some of the most renowned musicians of the Neapolitan musical milieu, including James Senese, Enzo Avitabile, Tullio De Piscopo and Tony Esposito.
In 1982 Daniele gradually shifted to a personal and early version of world music: in Bella 'mbriana musicians such as Alphonso Johnson and Wayne Shorter appeared as guest players. in the following year Daniele held a concert in La Habana, and later formed a Latin-American band featuring Juan Pablo Torres, Adalberto Lara and Nanà Vasconcelos. In Musicante (1984)) the former King Crimson-member Mel Collins played. Daniele's skills in creating well balanced blends of Mediterranean, Blues, rock, music, salsa and Neapolitan melodies are well shown in his first live work, Live Sciò of 1984.
Later Daniele collaborated with bluesman Richie Evans to an album written and played in duo, Common Ground. His interests for Arabic music are emphasized in Bonne Soirée (1987), while the subsequent Schizzechea With Love (1988) was more Mediterranean-oriented. In the same year he started a collaboration with the Italian actor and director Massimo Troisi: Daniele completed the soundtracks for Troisi's films Le vie del Signore sono finite and Pensavo fosse amore invece era un calesse.
A certain loss of inspiration and a move to a more pop-oriened songwriting can be detected in his greatest commercial success, Mascalzone Latino (1989), a success confirmed by the following Un Uomo In Blues (1991) and Che Dio ti benedica. The latter contains two song produced by Chick Corea.
Non calpestare i fiori nel deserto, released Spring 1995, is an attempt to revive inspiratation through African and Ethnic influences, and sell more than 800,000 copies. The subsequent tournée was ended with a doubled date with Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny.
In 2002, after a collaboration with Eros Ramazzotti, Daniele sang in trio with two other famous Italian author-singers, Francesco De Gregori and Fiorella Mannoia. His latest album containing unpublished songs is Passi d'autore of 2004.
After the divorce from Dorina Giangrande, who had worked as chorister in Terra Mia and gave him two sons, Daniele was living with Fabiola Sciabbarasi. The two had a daughter, Sara, whom Daniele dedicated an eponymous song in the album Medina.
He passed away from a heart attack between January 4th and 5th of 2015
Back Home
Pino Daniele Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pensando forte
Perchè non voglio essere come
Te che non fai un cazzo, no!
E' vero, no,
Giro di notte
Mi piace si la bella vita
Senza dare conto a nessuno
Back home,
Back to my roots.
Back home,
Back to my roots.
L'amore, no,
Non è una scusa,
Fa assumere un atteggiamento
Di difesa al sentimento, no!
E manterrò
Le mie radici
Seguendo una sintonia
Che mi porti a casa mia.
Back home,
Back to my roots.
Back home,
Back to my roots.
Prendo il treno e torno a casa
C'è qualcuno che mi aspetterà.
Prendo il treno e torno a casa
C'è qualcuno che mi aspetterà.
Back to my roots
(Grazie a Daniela per le correzioni)
The lyrics to Pino Daniele's song "Back Home" reflect on the artist's desire for authenticity and connection to his roots, contrasting with the superficiality of modern society. The opening lines set a tone of reflection, with the singer declaring they will work hard and think deeply to avoid becoming like those around them who "don't do a damn thing." The next lines express a fondness for the nightlife, but without feeling the need to explain or justify oneself to anyone.
The chorus, "Back home, back to my roots," reinforces the theme of returning to one's origins and values, rejecting the pressures of society and the allure of materialism. The next verse dismisses the notion that love is an excuse for emotional guardedness, and asserts that the singer will maintain their roots and follow a path that leads them home. The repetition of the phrase "back home" seems to evoke a sense of longing for a simpler and more meaningful way of life, while also providing comfort in the idea of a place to return to. The final lines suggest that someone is waiting for the singer to come home, offering a sense of purpose and belonging.
Overall, "Back Home" can be interpreted as a call for authenticity and self-reflection in a world that often values surface-level success over substance. The lyrics suggest that by staying true to one's roots and values, one can find a sense of purpose and belonging that is missing from the endless hustle of modern life.
Line by Line Meaning
Lavorerò
I will work
Pensando forte
Thinking hard
Perchè non voglio essere come
Because I don't want to be like
Te che non fai un cazzo, no!
You who don't do anything, no!
E' vero, no,
It's true, no
Giro di notte
I go out at night
Mi piace si la bella vita
I like the good life
Senza dare conto a nessuno
Without answering to anyone
Back home,
Back home,
Back to my roots.
Back to my roots.
L'amore, no,
Love, no,
Non è una scusa,
It's not an excuse,
Fa assumere un atteggiamento
It makes you take an attitude
Di difesa al sentimento, no!
Of defending your feelings, no!
E manterrò
And I'll keep
Le mie radici
My roots
Seguendo una sintonia
Following a harmony
Che mi porti a casa mia.
That brings me back home.
Prendo il treno e torno a casa
I take the train and go back home
C'è qualcuno che mi aspetterà.
Someone will be waiting for me.
Back to my roots
Back to my roots
Contributed by Chloe S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luigi Onorii
Lavorerò
pensando forte
perchè non voglio essere come
te che non fai un cazzo, no!
E' vero, no,
giro di notte
mi piace si la bella vita
senza dare conto a nessuno
Back home,
back to my roots.
Back home,
back to my roots.
L'amore, no,
non è una scusa,
fa assumere un atteggiamento
di difesa al sentimento, no!
E manterrò
le mie radici
seguendo una sintonia
che mi porti a casa mia.
Back home,
back to my roots.
Back home,
back to my roots.
Prendo il treno e torno a casa
c'è qualcuno che mi aspetterà.
Prendo il treno e torno a casa
c'è qualcuno che mi aspetterà.
Back to my roots
Emanuele Novizio
Una delle canzoni più sottovalutate di Pino Daniele. E nessuno mi farà cambiare idea.
Marco Morcaldi
o pure .. prima..
Gianluca Pepe
Una delle canzoni più sottovaltuate di pino Daniele . E nessuno mi darà cambiare idea
Antonio Pavone
d'accordissimo... troppo bella
Luigi Onorii
Lavorerò
pensando forte
perchè non voglio essere come
te che non fai un cazzo, no!
E' vero, no,
giro di notte
mi piace si la bella vita
senza dare conto a nessuno
Back home,
back to my roots.
Back home,
back to my roots.
L'amore, no,
non è una scusa,
fa assumere un atteggiamento
di difesa al sentimento, no!
E manterrò
le mie radici
seguendo una sintonia
che mi porti a casa mia.
Back home,
back to my roots.
Back home,
back to my roots.
Prendo il treno e torno a casa
c'è qualcuno che mi aspetterà.
Prendo il treno e torno a casa
c'è qualcuno che mi aspetterà.
Back to my roots
Protezione Natura
Una delle ultime canzoni che ricordo aver ascoltato con mio padre presentata a che tempo che fa...non può che essere meravigliosa🌷
Iago Ribeiro
Um brasileiro que ama essas músicas. Bjs
Rafaus
grande Pino.. resterai sempre nei nostri cuori
Moka Moka
Quelle chanson magnifique, et le son de cette guitare, il est magnifique aussi, j'adore, Pino, un immense artiste, mi piace molto molto, parti trop tôt, tu resteras à jamais dans nos cœurs et dans nos mémoires, de plus, tu étais napolitain comme mon père chéri, Armando. Reposa in pace.
Asso
E con oggi sono già due anni che manca la tua musica, uno dei tuoi pezzi più belli ,fa venire sempre i brividi ad ascoltarlo , grande Pino ❤️