RedSka is is an Italian ska band formed in 2001 in Romagna. In 2004 followi… Read Full Bio ↴RedSka is is an Italian ska band formed in 2001 in Romagna. In 2004 following their victory in a band contest called "conKorso" they publish their first official album Mi son sbagliato nel confondermi ("I was mistaken while confusing myself") (Sana Records / Audioglobe), a blend of ska-punk with strong influences of californian ska, mixed with reggae, raggamuffin, swing, blues, hardcore e rocksteady sounds. There are already some relevant participation such as The Hormonauts and Enri. The RedSka has made live concerts next to: Banda Bassotti, Matrioska, Strawman,Los Fastidios, The Good Fellas. The lyrics, save for a few songs are centered mainly on politics, religion, work and against wars and racial discriminations stressing more firmly the band's social commitment.
With the last album the band embarked on a long tour, with many gigs in Croatia, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, France and Czech Republic aside the usual italian ride.

Bella ciao
Redska Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Una mattina mi son svegliato
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
Una mattina mi son svegliato
e ho trovato l'invasor

O partigiano portami via
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
O partigiano portami via

che mi sento di morir

E se muoio da partigiano
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
e se muoio da partigiano
tu mi devi seppellir

E seppellire lassù in montagna
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
e seppellire lassù in montagna
sotto l'ombra di un bel fior

Tutte le genti che passeranno
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
tutte le genti che passeranno
ti diranno che bel fior

E questo è il fiore del partigiano
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao

è questo il fiore del partigiano
morto per la libertà

Overall Meaning

The song "Bella Ciao" has its origin in Italy from the early 20th century. Initially, it was a protest song sung by striking workers in northern Italy. Over the years, the song has morphed into an anthem for the Italian resistance against fascism during the Second World War.

The lyrics of the song tell the story of an oppressed and impoverished peasant who wakes up one morning to find an invader has arrived. The person knows that they are likely to die soon as a result of this invasion, and so they ask a partisan fighter, known as a partigiano, to take them away somewhere safe. The chorus of the song features the words "o bella ciao," and the song continues to alternate between the plea of the person and the response of the partigiano.

The song is a touching depiction of the need for courage in the face of adversity and the hope for redemption even in the darkest of times. The song's message is all the more poignant because of the context in which it was first sung, as it served as a rallying cry for those brave souls who fought against the Nazis and their fascist supporters.

Line by Line Meaning

Una mattina mi son svegliato
One morning, I woke up