Neapolitan Song "Mamma mia, che vó sapè" - Caruso 1909

Composed by Emanuele Nutile. Recorded by Caruso 6. Nov. 1909. Previously uploaded in a digitally remastered version.

This is the first song Caruso recorded in his native dialect (about a poor, homesick Italian immigrant).
Caruso made the song a hit in Amerika.
Later, during one of his stays in Naples, Caruso visited Emanuele Nutile, the impoverished and forgotten composer of "Mamma mia" and is said to have pressed 5,000 lire into his hand - a quite considerable sum of money in those days.

LYRICS:

Mamma Mia, Che Vò' Sapé?
(What Do You Want to Know, Mama?)
Quanno 'a notte se ne scenne
When night falls
p'abbruciá chist'uocchie stanche,
(and comes) to burn these weary eyes of mine
quann'io veglio e tu mme manche,
When I stay up and miss you
sento 'a smánia 'e te vasá
I feel the need to kiss you.

E te chiammo, e schiara juorno,
And I call for you, and (then) day becomes bright
ma è pe' ll'ate stu chiarore.
But this brightness is for others (not for me)
Tengo 'a notte dint''o core
I hold the night inside my heart
e nun pòzzo arrepusá.
And I can't repose

Ah, nun mme fá murí!
Ah, don't make me die!
Tu, che ne vuó' da me?
You, what do you want from me?
Mamma mia mme vène a dí pecché
Mama asks me why
chesta smánia nun mme vò' lassá.
this longing can't leave me (in peace)

Ah, nun mme fá murí!
Ah, Don't make me die!
Tu che ne vuó' da me?
What do you want from me?
Mamma mia che vò' sapé?
What do you want to know, Mama?
Mamma mia ch'ha da appurá?
What do you want to clarify, Mama?
Nun mme fido d''a vasá.
I don't have the heart to kiss her

Ah! Ah!
Mamma mia ch'ha da appurá?
What do you want to clarify, Mama?
Ah! Ah!
Mamma mia ch'ha da appurá?
What do you want to clarify, Mama?

Видео Neapolitan Song "Mamma mia, che vó sapè" - Caruso 1909 канала Tom Frøkjær