Santa Lucia
Vico Torriani Lyrics

The song "Santa Lucia" by Vico Torriani is a nostalgic song about the singer's longing for his home in Santa Lucia, Napoli. He begins by describing his old father's house, where he stood restlessly like the seagulls watching the ships come and go. At that time, he desired to explore the world and find happiness outside of his homeland. But now, he sees the stars of his hometown and wishes to return. The singer passionately sings "Oh do mein Napoli, dich muss man lieben!" which means "Oh my Napoli, you must be loved!" He asserts that whoever sees the beauty of his hometown will always be loyal to it. He longs to see it again because life is beautiful with it. He repeats "Santa Lucia" as an emotion of love and attachment that he feels towards his hometown.

The song then takes a more emotional turn as the singer recounts his past love at Santa Lucia. He fell in love for the first time, but the waves of the sea separated him from his love. He had no choice but to escape secretly, just like many other people whose blood burned with a feverish desire. He expresses his heartbreak that his heart never found peace. However, his only consolation is his song, and he sings with a great passion.

"Santa Lucia" is not only a love song but also holds historical importance. The song was originally composed in 1849 by the playwright and poet, Teodoro Cottrau, and it became extremely popular among Italian emigrants. The song's popularity caused it to become an unofficial anthem of the Neapolitan people. The city's traditional festival, which takes place on December 13, is named after the song, and it comprises fireworks displays and other cultural activities. In the early 20th century, several artists recorded covers of the song, including Luciano Pavarotti, Elvis Presley, and Mario Lanza. "Santa Lucia" has been translated into numerous languages, including English, French, and German.