PFM introduced new sounds, such as the synthesizer, to the Italian musical world. They were also among the first to combine symphonic classical and traditional Italian musical influences in a rock music context. Such innovations and their longevity have made them among the most important bands in the international Progressive rock genre.
The original core members of PFM (Franco Mussida, Franz Di Cioccio, Flavio Premoli, and Giorgio Piazza) came together in the mid 1960's while playing together as backup musicians for many different Italian pop, rock and folk singers such as Lucio Battisti, Mina, Adriano Celentano and Fabrizio De André. They appeared on many recordings for other artists during this period and quickly established themselves as top players on the Italian rock and pop scene. Mussida, Premoli, Piazza and Di Cioccio then formed the group "I quelli" (English translation "Them", or "Those Guys") in 1968. I quelli released one album and some successful Italian singles.
Premiata Forneria Marconi was officially formed in Milan, Italy in 1970 when the members of I quelli met Mauro Pagani from the group Dalton. Pagani helped the group expand their sound to include violin and flute. By this time they were already highly experienced musicians and easily able to play the kind of complex progressive heavy rock played by the leading English and American groups. Their early live performances included covers by groups such as King Crimson and Jethro Tull. Other early influences included Chicago, Ekseption, and The Flock.
They had a long name, as Italian progressive bands tended to have back then, and so were usually referred to as "La Premiata", and later "PFM". After rejecting Isotta-Fraschini (an Italian car maker) the group finally settled on Pagani's suggestion, "Forneria Marconi" (meaning "Marconi Bakery"), borrowed from the sign of a shop in the small town of Chiari, near Brescia. However, record producer and friend Alessandro Colombini suggested the name was not strong enough, so the title "Premiata" (award-winning) was added. Some objected that "Premiata Forneria Marconi" was too long a name, but the group's philosophy stated that the more difficult to remember a band's name, the more difficult to forget it.
The most recent line-up of PFM follows:
- Franco Mussida: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, 12 string guitar, mandolin, vocals (1970–present)
- Franz Di Cioccio: drums, percussion, lead and backing vocals (1970–present)
- Patrick Djivas: bass, programming (1974–present)
- Lucio Fabbri: violin, keyboards (1979–1987, 2000–present )
- Gianluca Tagliavini: piano, Hammond, Minimoog, other keyboards (2005–present)
- Piero Monterisi: additional drums (2006–present)
Former members of PFM follows:
- Flavio Premoli: piano, keyboards, Mellotron, Moog synthesizer, lead vocals (1970–1980, 1997–2005)
- Giorgio Piazza: bass (1970–1974)
- Mauro Pagani: flute, piccolo, violin, vocals (1970–1976)
- Bernardo Lanzetti: lead vocals, rhythm guitar (1975–1977)
- Gregory Bloch: violin (1976–1977)
- Walter Calloni: additional drums (1982–1987)
- Roberto Gualdi: additional drums (1997–2005)
Dolcissima Maria
Premiata Forneria Marconi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dimentica I fiori
Dipinti dal tempo
Sopra il tuo viso,
E gli anni andati via
Seduta ad aspettare
Una lunga, lunga via
Nessuno da incontrare...
E il giorno arriverà
Vestito di poesia
Ti parlerà di sogni
Che non ricordavi più,
E ti benedirà
Dolcissima Maria
Dolce Maria
Dagli occhi puliti
Dagli occhi bagnati
È tempo d'andare:
È presto sentirai
Profumo di mattino
E il tordo canterà
Volandoti vicino...
Non voltarti più.
E qualcuno se vorrai
Vestito di poesia
Ti coprirà d'amore
Senza chiederti di più,
E t'accarezzerà
Dolcissima Maria
The lyrics to Premiata Forneria Marconi's song Dolcissima Maria explore themes of loss, waiting, and the possibility of new beginnings. The title itself translates to "Sweet Maria," and the initial lines implore Maria to forget the flowers that time has painted on her face and the years that have slipped away. The image of Maria sitting and waiting for someone to arrive but finding nobody also alludes to loneliness and abandonment.
The second stanza introduces a more hopeful tone, as the lyrics suggest that a new day will arrive with poetry and dreams. The references to the morning's fragrance and the thrush's singing indicate a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. The lyrics then advise Maria not to turn back but to keep moving forward and embrace the love and care that will come her way.
Overall, Dolcissima Maria is a melancholic yet uplifting song that celebrates the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. It encourages the listener to have faith in the possibility of new beginnings and to not be afraid to move on from the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Dolce Maria
Addressing a woman named Maria with endearing terms.
Dimentica I fiori
Forget the flowers that once bloomed on your face and signify your youth now taken by time.
Dipinti dal tempo
The passage of time has painted the lady's face with lines and wrinkles of age.
Sopra il tuo viso,
The wrinkles on her face symbolize the journey of her life and the experiences that have shaped her.
E gli anni andati via
Her youthful years have passed and gone.
Seduta ad aspettare
Maria is sitting and waiting for something to happen.
Una lunga, lunga via
The journey she is waiting for seems long and uncertain.
Nessuno da incontrare...
There seems to be no one for her to meet on this journey.
Non voltarti più
Don't look back and dwell on the past.
E il giorno arriverà
A day will come when things will change.
Vestito di poesia
This day will be filled with joy and beauty, poetic and wonderful.
Ti parlerà di sogni
The day will tell her of dreams she has forgotten.
Che non ricordavi più,
Dreams and desires she hasn't thought of in a while.
E ti benedirà
The day will bless her with new hopes and aspirations.
Dolcissima Maria
Addressing Maria with even more affection and sweetness.
Dagli occhi puliti
Maria has pure and honest eyes.
Dagli occhi bagnati
Her eyes are teary, perhaps reflecting her past hardships.
È tempo d'andare:
It's time for Maria to leave and start anew.
È presto sentirai
The singer reassures her that good things will come soon.
Profumo di mattino
There will be a scent of morning freshness and new beginnings.
E il tordo canterà
The bird will sing, indicating happiness and hope.
Volandoti vicino...
The bird will fly near her, indicating a companion or new friendship.
E qualcuno se vorrai
If she wishes, she can find someone to share her life with.
Vestito di poesia
This person will bring beauty and joy to her life.
Ti coprirà d'amore
This person will love and cherish her.
Senza chiederti di più,
This person will love her unconditionally, without asking for anything in return.
E t'accarezzerà
They will show her affection and care.
Dolcissima Maria
Addressing Maria once more with endearing sweetness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paul Vox
Dolcissima Maria
Dolce Maria
dimentica i fiori
dipinti dal tempo
sopra il tuo viso,
e gli anni andati via
seduta ad aspettare
una lunga, lunga via
nessuno da incontrare...
Non voltarti piu
E ii giorno arriverà
vestito di poesia
ti parlerà di sogni
che non ricordavi piú,
e ti benedirà
dolcissima Maria
Dolce Maria
dagli occhi puliti
dagli occhi bagnati
è tempo d'andare:
è presto sentirai
profumo di mattino
e il tordo canterà
volandoti vicino...
non voltarti piú.
E qualcuno se vorrai
vestito di poesia
ti coprirà d'amore
senza chiederti di piú,
e t'accarezzerà
dolcissima Maria.
Dulcísima María
Dulce María
Olvídate de las flores
Pintadas por el tiempo
Sobre tu rostro,
Y los años que pasaron
Sentada esperando
Un largo, largo camino
Sin encontrar a nadie…
No mires más hacia atrás.
Y el día llegará
Vestido de poesía
Te hablará de sueños
Que no recordabas ya,
Y te bendecirá
Dulcísima María.
Dulce María
De los ojos prístinos
De los ojos mojados
Es tiempo de andar
Y pronto sentirás
Perfume de mañana
Y el tordo cantará
Volándote alrededor…
No mires más hacia atrás.
Y alguno, si quisieras,
Vestido de poesía
Te cubrirá de amor
Sin pedirte de más,
Y te acariciará
Dulcísima María.
Jill Nunemaker
Always have LOVED this band since the 70's. The most beautiful progressive music ever....
Nicola Tirozzi
Non c'è una canzone più dolce di questa.Vengono i brividi quando l'ascolti.
Paul Vox
Dolcissima Maria
Dolce Maria
dimentica i fiori
dipinti dal tempo
sopra il tuo viso,
e gli anni andati via
seduta ad aspettare
una lunga, lunga via
nessuno da incontrare...
Non voltarti piu
E ii giorno arriverà
vestito di poesia
ti parlerà di sogni
che non ricordavi piú,
e ti benedirà
dolcissima Maria
Dolce Maria
dagli occhi puliti
dagli occhi bagnati
è tempo d'andare:
è presto sentirai
profumo di mattino
e il tordo canterà
volandoti vicino...
non voltarti piú.
E qualcuno se vorrai
vestito di poesia
ti coprirà d'amore
senza chiederti di piú,
e t'accarezzerà
dolcissima Maria.
Dulcísima María
Dulce María
Olvídate de las flores
Pintadas por el tiempo
Sobre tu rostro,
Y los años que pasaron
Sentada esperando
Un largo, largo camino
Sin encontrar a nadie…
No mires más hacia atrás.
Y el día llegará
Vestido de poesía
Te hablará de sueños
Que no recordabas ya,
Y te bendecirá
Dulcísima María.
Dulce María
De los ojos prístinos
De los ojos mojados
Es tiempo de andar
Y pronto sentirás
Perfume de mañana
Y el tordo cantará
Volándote alrededor…
No mires más hacia atrás.
Y alguno, si quisieras,
Vestido de poesía
Te cubrirá de amor
Sin pedirte de más,
Y te acariciará
Dulcísima María.
Mario Mendoza Ramírez
Gracias Paul. 👍👍👍
Paola Cestonaro
Poesia!.
mari baez
Paul Vox gracias!!
Paul Vox
Antonio Calderon: no hay por qué, amico.
Antonio Calderon
Gracias por la traducción!! Paul Vox
Erre Bi
... e quante altre volte la riascolteremo ancora ?...
... una melodia che ci riporta con i nostri ricordi in un epoca d' oro simbolo di lotte, passioni, speranze, amicizie sincere e tanto tanto amore ....
Addio per sempre ....meravigliosi anni 70'
Sonny Brecken
@Wells Jeremias yea, I've been using instaflixxer for months myself :D