Bella ciao
Tjalling Reitsma Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Una mattina mi sono azalto
E ho trovato l′invasor
O partigiano, portami via
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
O partigiano, portami via
E se io muoio da partigiano
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
E se io 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
The song "Bella Ciao" by Tjalling Reitsma is a tribute to the anti-fascist Italian resistance fighters of World War II. The lyrics depict a group of fighters who wake up one morning to find an invader in their midst. They call out to the partisans to save them from certain death, and make a pledge to each other that if one of them dies, the others must bury their body in the mountains under the shade of a beautiful flower.
The song is a powerful symbol of solidarity, unity, and resistance against oppression. The refrain "bella ciao" emphasizes the beauty of life and the desire to fight for it, even in the face of struggle and difficulty. The call to the partisans to save them from death shows the importance of community and mutual support. The promise to bury each other in the mountains under the shade of a beautiful flower represents the hope for a better future, even in the midst of pain and loss.
Overall, "Bella Ciao" is a deeply emotional and powerful song that serves as a tribute to the bravery and resilience of the Italian resistance fighters during World War II.
Line by Line Meaning
Una mattina mi sono alzato
One morning I woke up
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Oh beautiful goodbye, beautiful goodbye, beautiful goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
Una mattina mi sono alzato
One morning I woke up
E ho trovato l’invasor
And I found the invader
O partigiano, portami via
Oh partisan, take me away
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Oh beautiful goodbye, beautiful goodbye, beautiful goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
O partigiano, portami via
Oh partisan, take me away
Ché mi sento di morir
Because I feel like dying
E se io muoio da partigiano
And if I die as a partisan
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Oh beautiful goodbye, beautiful goodbye, beautiful goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
E se io muoio da partigiano
And if I die as a partisan
Tu mi devi seppellir
You must bury me
E seppellire lassù in montagna
And bury me up in the mountain
O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
Oh beautiful goodbye, beautiful goodbye, beautiful goodbye, goodbye, goodbye
E seppellire lassù in montagna
And bury me up in the mountain
Sotto l’ombra di un bel fior
Under the shadow of a beautiful flower
Contributed by Aaliyah E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.