# Neapolitan song translation **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 28, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neapolitan-song-translation/487814 "2009-02-28T19:44:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [February 28, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neapolitan-song-translation/487814/1 "2009-02-28T19:44:55Z")
[In this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=413781) from a couple of years ago I asked for a translation of [Io Mammate E Tu](http://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/x/xfileslyrics/iomammateetulyrics.html) **Lars Aruns** gave me the gist of it, but I thought maybe two years on we might have a member now who speaks Neapolitan who could translate the lyrics. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neapolitan-song-translation/487814/2 "2009-03-01T01:25:47Z")
I don’t speak it fluently, but I have a dictionary and a grammar, so I’ll give it a go. Poetry of any sort is hard, but it’ll bump the thread until someone knowledgeable can correct. While I play with this, note that your link appears to have some errors. I’m going to work from [http://www.lyrics007.com/Renato%20Carosone%20Lyrics/Io%20Mammeta%20E%20Tu%20Lyrics.html](http://www.lyrics007.com/Renato%20Carosone%20Lyrics/Io%20Mammeta%20E%20Tu%20Lyrics.html) (R. C. was the original artist), as it is more consistently grammatical. ---
**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 1, 2009, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neapolitan-song-translation/487814/3 "2009-03-01T01:31:46Z")
Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neapolitan-song-translation/487814/4 "2009-03-01T01:50:22Z")
Some imperfections, obviously. In neapolitan, that -ta or -to on family relation words means “your” but is also a sort of shortening endearment, which is so hard to translate that I didn’t bother. I told you, from the first meeting, not to bring anyone with you… Instead now there’s a brother, a sister, a niece… you have not been alone once, we always go out as a trio! And you promised me “Tomorrow, who knows… I’ll come alone… alone with mama!” Me, your mama, and you… We’ll go down [Toledo St.?], us in front and your mama behind… Me, your mama, and you… Always by, and what’s crazy is that she’ll even come on our honeymoon… We go to the movies, or dancing… if we try to melt this thing (??make out??), like a Fed she comes to grab it… Ah… ah… but, I’m in love, I’m resigned. I don’t react anymore. Me, your mama, and you! But St. Gennaro gave me a blessing — the other morning she didn’t get up. She was sick with the evil eye and a fever, it seemed like she was dying, I almost believed that I would go out alone with you… Mama found a voice, thin as a thread, “I’ll give you the little girl to keep you company.” Me, your sister, and you… we went to the Patamone bar. “Would you like a little cup or would you like an ice cream?” I want whatever costs more!” As I recall it was a whole day, within the town, that we took photos… “Would you like a ball, would you like a doll(?), she can’t carry it and walk… I look at her, I look at the sea… I’m thinking about throwing her in… Ah… ah… but, I’m in love, I’m resigned, I’ll never (something) anymore… Your mother, your sister, and you… Your mother, your sister, and you… We go to the movies, or dancing… if we try to melt this thing (??make out??), like a Fed she comes to grab it… Ah… ah… you make me woeful [the dictionary say: “joke for ‘get married’] I’m going to marry another, I won’t (something) anymore… Your mother, your sister, and you… your father, your brother, and you… your grandma, your aunts, your father, your brother, your grandma, your sister, and you. ---
**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 1, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neapolitan-song-translation/487814/5 "2009-03-01T01:59:07Z")
Outstanding! Many thanks!