Santa Lucia

"Santa Lucia" (Italian: [ˈsanta luˈtʃiːa], Neapolitan: [ˈsandə luˈʃiːə]) is a traditional Neapolitan song. It was translated by Teodoro Cottrau (1827–1879) into Italian and published by the Cottrau firm, as a barcarola, in Naples in 1849. Cottrau translated it from Neapolitan into Italian during the first stage of the Italian unification, the first Neapolitan song to be given Italian lyrics. Its transcriber, who is very often credited as its composer, was the son of the French-born Italian composer and collector of songs Guillaume Louis Cottrau (1797–1847). Various sources credit A. Longo with the music, 1835.

The original lyrics of "Santa Lucia" celebrate the picturesque waterfront district, Borgo Santa Lucia, in the Gulf of Naples, in the invitation of a boatman to take a turn in his boat, to better enjoy the cool of the evening.

Comme se frícceca la luna chiena! lo mare ride, ll'aria è serena... È pronta e lesta la varca mia... Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! Stu viento frisco fa risciatare: chi vo' spassarse jenno pe' mmare? Vuje che facite 'mmiezo a la via? Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! La tènna è posta pe' fa' 'na cena; e quanno stace la panza chiena non c'è la mínema melanconia. Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Pozzo accostare la varca mia Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Sul mare luccica l’astro d’argento. Placida è l’onda, prospero è il vento. Sul mare luccica l’astro d’argento. Placida è l’onda, prospero è il vento. Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Con questo zeffiro, così soave, Oh, com’è bello star sulla nave! Con questo zeffiro, così soave, Oh, com’è bello star sulla nave! Su passeggeri, venite via! Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Su passeggeri, venite via! Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! In fra le tende, bandir la cena In una sera così serena, In fra le tende, bandir la cena In una sera così serena, Chi non dimanda, chi non desia. Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Chi non dimanda, chi non desia. Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Mare sì placida, vento sì caro, Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro, Mare sì placido, vento sì caro, Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro, E va gridando con allegria, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! E va gridando con allegria, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! O dolce Napoli, o suol beato, Ove sorridere volle il creato, O dolce Napoli, o suol beato, Ove sorridere volle il creato, Tu sei l'impero dell’armonia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Tu sei l'impero dell’armonia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Or che tardate? Bella è la sera. Spira un’auretta fresca e leggera. Or che tardate? Bella è la sera. Spira un’auretta fresca e leggera. Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa —Lucia! Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

On the sea glitters the silver star Gentle the waves, favorable the winds. On the sea glitters the silver star Gentle the waves, favorable the winds. Come into my nimble little boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Come into my nimble little boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! With this breeze, so gentle, Oh, how beautiful to be on the ship! With this breeze, so gentle, Oh, how beautiful to be on the ship! Come aboard passengers, come on! Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Come aboard passengers, come on! Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Inside the tents, putting aside supper On such a quiet evening, Inside the tents, putting aside supper On such a quiet evening, Who wouldn't demand, who wouldn't desire? Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Who wouldn't demand, who wouldn't desire? Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Sea so calm, the wind so dear, Forget what makes trouble for the sailor, Sea so calm, the wind so dear, Forget what makes trouble for the sailor, And go shout with merriment, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! And go shout with merriment, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! O sweet Naples, O blessed soil, Where to smile desired its creation, O sweet Naples, upon blessed soil, Where to smile desired its creation, You are the kingdom of harmony, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! You are the kingdom of harmony, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Now to linger? The evening is beautiful. A little breeze blows fresh and light. Now to linger? The evening is beautiful. A little breeze blows fresh and light. Come into my nimble little boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy! Come into my nimble little boat, Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

Now 'neath the silver moon Ocean is glowing, O'er the calm billows, soft winds are blowing. Here balmy breezes blow, pure joys invite us, And as we gently row, all things delight us. Chorus: Hark, how the sailor's cry joyously echoes nigh: Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! Home of fair Poesy, realm of pure harmony, Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! When o'er the waters light winds are playing, Thy spell can soothe us, all care allaying. To thee sweet Napoli, what charms are given, Where smiles creation, toil blest by heaven.

Perhaps the definitive 20th century recording of the song was that of Enrico Caruso, the great Neapolitan opera singer. Mario Lanza recorded this song in this album "Mario Lanza sings Caruso favorites", RCA Victor LSC-2393.

In the United States, an early edition of the song, with an English translation by Thomas Oliphant, was published by M. McCaffrey, Baltimore.

In Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Norway, "Santa Lucia" has been given various lyrics to accommodate it to the winter-light Saint Lucy's Day, at the darkest time of the year. The three most famous lyrics versions in Swedish are Luciasången, also known by its incipit, Sankta Lucia, ljusklara hägring ("Saint Lucy, bright illusion"); Natten går tunga fjät ("The night walks with heavy steps"); and the 1970s "kindergarten" version, Ute är mörkt och kallt ("Outside it’s dark and cold"). The more common Norwegian version is Svart senker natten seg ("Black the night descends"), whereas the version commonly used in Denmark is titled Nu bæres lyset frem ("Now light is carried forth").

In the Czech Republic (or former Czechoslovakia), it was made famous with the words Krásná je Neapol sung by Waldemar Matuška.

In Austria it is famous under the title "Wenn sich der Abend mild". It is sung by Austrian fraternities.

In Thailand a translation, Silpakorn Niyom (Thai: ศิลปากรนิยม), is the anthem of Silpakorn University; the founder of the university, Silpa Bhirasri, was Italian.