Santa Lucia

Santa Lucia is a Neapolitan song ( canzone napoletana ) from the mid-19th century, which became famous by the spread of the Lucia festival particularly in Scandinavia. Author was Teodoro Cottrau.

Cottrau published the song as Barcarolle in Neapolitan dialect in 1849 and translated it into Italian in the sequence during the Risorgimento. The text praises the (then) a picturesque fishing port of Borgo Santa Lucia on the Gulf of Naples, in the words of a skipper, which is ideal for a boat trip in the refreshing cool evening air. The song was shortly to global success with translations including English by Thomas Oliphant, published in Baltimore in M.McCaffrey. The song was sung by Enrico Caruso as well as Elvis Presley ( 1965 album Elvis for Everyone ).

The best known is that of the Swedish version Luciasången.

The Czech text extols the beauty of Naples. ( Krasna per Neapol ).

Italian Text

Sul mare luccica l' astro d' argento; placida è l' onda, prospero il vento. Venite all'agile barchetta mia! Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! Con questo zeffiro così soave oh com'è bello sulla star nature! Su passagers, venite via! Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! In fra le tend Bandir la cena in una sera così serena chi non dimanda, chi non Desia? Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!