# 'Io Mammate E Tu' (Karl Zero) translation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/io-mammate-e-tu-karl-zero-translation/397318>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 24, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/io-mammate-e-tu-karl-zero-translation/397318 "2007-03-24T14:28:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/io-mammate-e-tu-karl-zero-translation/397318/1 "2007-03-24T14:28:35Z")

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In [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=376209) **Girl From Mars** helped me out with a translation of the lyrics for Karl Zero’s _Le Panse_.

Can anyone translate [_Io Mammate E Tu_](http://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/x/xfileslyrics/iomammateetulyrics.html) for me?

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**Author:** ![Lars\_Aruns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c68b51/32.png) [@Lars\_Aruns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lars_Aruns)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2007, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/io-mammate-e-tu-karl-zero-translation/397318/2 "2007-03-25T09:39:53Z")

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I can’t really translate word by word, because most of it is in Neapolitan and I can’t speak it, although I can get a bit of the meaning. The title of this song translates to “Me, your momma, and you”.

This song is a complaint from a man engaged with a girl about how she always brings chaperones to their dates (starting from her mom, the _Mammate_ of the title), even if he told her quite clearly not to do so. And the problem is not just having third parties spying on them, but their bing greedy, obnoxious ones. For example, one of the verses tells about how the singer had to tolerate her little sister’s spoiled behaviour: he brought his GF and her sister to a posh, fashionable cafe’ and when he asked the little girl what she wanted, she answered “Whatever costs more!”

After a few other examples of misbehaviour, he says he’s pissed off and that he’s not going to marry the girl anymore.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [March 25, 2007, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/io-mammate-e-tu-karl-zero-translation/397318/3 "2007-03-25T13:36:47Z")

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[QUOTE=Lars Aruns]  
I can’t really translate word by word, because most of it is in Neapolitan and I can’t speak it  
[/QUOTE]

Babelfish seems not to speak Neapolitan very well either. Is it really that different from standard Italian?

(Thanks for the gist, BTW.)