Cosa Succede In Città
Vasco Rossi Lyrics

The opening verse of Vasco Rossi's Cosa Succede In Città expresses the importance of money in contemporary society. The repetition of "Conta sì il denaro" ("Money counts, it sure does") emphasizes the significance of wealth in daily life. The second line, "Altro che no" ("No doubt about it"), reinforces his point. The following line, "Me ne accorgo soprattutto quando, quando non ne ho" ("I realize it mostly when, when I don't have any"), suggests that the relevance of money is noticed most acutely when it is absent. The repetition of "Conta sì il denaro" is modified slightly in the last line, "Altro che chiacchiere" ("More than just words"), asserting that money is not merely a topic of conversation, but a crucial element of reality.

The chorus of the song shifts attention to the city and its problems. The first two lines ask what is happening in the city, suggesting that something is amiss. The repetition of "Guarda lì, guarda là" ("Look here, look there") to describe the chaos and rudeness adds to the sense of disorder. The lines of the chorus reiterate the idea that something is not right, but there is no clear solution.

The second verse returns to the individual perspective, emphasizing the selfishness that arises from discomfort. Vasco asks why he should not be selfish when he has a stomachache and wants to keep it to himself. The last two lines of the verse introduce a shift in perspective that leads to the bridge: "Siamo noi, siamo noi/ Quelli più stanchi" ("It's us, it's us/ The most tired ones"). Vasco acknowledges that the city's problems are not external, but internal, referring to a pervasive sense of exhaustion that he links to the need to keep moving forward.

Overall, the song speaks to the unsettling mood of modern urban life, where individualism and materialism often trump community and spirituality.