Ciribiribin
The Harry James Orchestra Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

When the moon hangs low in Napoli, there's a handsome gondolier,
Every night he sings so happily, so his lady love can hear.
In a manner oh gravissimo, he repeats his serenade,
And his heart beats so fortissimo, when she raises her Venetian shade.
Ciribiribin, chiribiribin, ciribiribin.
Ciribiribin, he waits for her each night beneath her balcony.
Ciribiribin, he begs to hold her tight, but no, she won't agree.
Ciribiribin, she throws a rose and blows a kiss from up above,
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love.




(musical interlude)
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love.

Overall Meaning

The Harry James Orchestra's song Ciribiribin tells the story of a gondolier who awaits his lady love every night beneath her balcony in Naples. When the moon hangs low, he sings his serenade with passion, hoping that she will hear him and grant him a chance to hold her tight. However, she seems hesitant to agree to his requests, and despite throwing a rose and blowing a kiss from above, the two remain separate.


Line by Line Meaning

When the moon hangs low in Napoli, there's a handsome gondolier,
In Naples, when the moon is low, a charming boatman can be seen.


Every night he sings so happily, so his lady love can hear.
He sings every night with joy, hoping his beloved will listen.


In a manner oh gravissimo, he repeats his serenade,
He sings his song with a serious air, repeating it again and again.


And his heart beats so fortissimo, when she raises her Venetian shade.
His heart beats loudly when she raises her window.


Ciribiribin, chiribiribin, ciribiribin.
The refrain of the song, expressing the joy of love and music.


Ciribiribin, he waits for her each night beneath her balcony.
He waits for her every night under her balcony.


Ciribiribin, he begs to hold her tight, but no, she won't agree.
He asks to hold her tightly, but she refuses.


Ciribiribin, she throws a rose and blows a kiss from up above,
She throws a rose and blows a kiss from her balcony as a gesture of love.


Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love.
The refrain, emphasizing the depth of their love.


(musical interlude)
Musical break without lyrics.


Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love.
The refrain, repeating the message of their love and happiness.




Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, LES NOUVELLES EDITIONS MERIDIAN
Written by: EDGAR CARVER, ALBERTO PESTALOZZA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@roypeaslee1305

Harry James way of introducing classical music to teens of the time. From 3/4 time to jazzed up music. I loved it.

@orangspiralysis9774

was this piece a jazzed up classical piece?

@christophercanzoneri2962

​@@orangspiralysis9774No. This was a popular song from the Italian Tin Pan Alley in Naples.

@jeffdawson2786

Harry burns it up, man. I have a feeling Louis Armstrong dug this record.

@marcbollaert9982

SUPER !!!!!!

@lawrencephelps3181

Wow! Can cut a rug to that!

@rorydillon7572

Hot as Hell.

@Joshster-si6ov

Heck yes

@paulmurray5655

He was fancier than Berigan but not as inventive. Still, one of the greatest horns ever to grace Mother Earth. This is the essence of swing; it brings tears to my eyes. Best always. PM

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