Before
talking about this famous neapolitan song, which
was written in 1925, we have to consider L. Bovio
history: he is with F. Buongiovanni the author
of Lacreme napoletane.
Libero Bovio, son of the philosopher Giovanni
Bovio, wrote a long series of songs in Neapolitan
dialect; these are just some of them: Carulì
Carulì, 'A canzone 'e Napule, Nun voglio
fa niente, Sona chitarra, Tarantella luciana,
Carufanella, Guapparia, Nonna nonna, Tu ca nun
chiagne, Fron' 'e cerase, Regginella, Ncoppa 'a
ll'onna, Brinneso, Silenzio cantatore, Chiove,
'O paese d''o sole; Tarantella scugnizza, Zappatore,
Guappo song'io, Passione. He also wrote some songs
in Italian, as Cara piccina (1918) and Signorinella
(1931).
He was much beloved by people from Neaples and
they tell the stories of exultation when he walked
in the city streets.
In "Lacreme napulitane" a sad emigrating
story is told. An emigrant talks to his mother
about the coming Christmas time. He lives in America
and says that when it's Christmas it's harder
to stay away from one's land. He feels like seeing
a player of the zampogna, being closer to his
children. He asks her mother to prepare the crib
for his children and to put a dish for him on
the table, so that on the Christmas Eve they will
feel his presence. America means tears for Neapolitan
people, who desire to see again Naples sky, but
who have to live abroad in order to send money
to their families .
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