My favourite Folksong is this...

SANTA LUCIA (Neapolitan Lyrics)

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 passegieri! Venite via!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Su passegieri! 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 si placida, vento si caro,
Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro,
Mare si placida, vento si 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 impero dell’armonia,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
Tu sei impero dell’armonia,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.

Or che tardate? Bella è la sera.
Spira un’auretta fresca e leggiera.
Or che tardate? Bella è la sera.
Spira un’auretta fresca e leggiera.
Venite all’agile, barchetta mia,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
Venite all’agile, barchetta mia,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.

***

SANTA LUCIA (English translation)

Over the sea shines a silver star.
Placid is the wave. Fair is the wind.
Over the sea shines a silver star.
Placid is the wave. Fair is the wind.
Come to my swift little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
Come to my swift little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.

With this zephyr so gentle,
Oh, how fine it is to be on the ship!
With this zephyr so gentle,
Oh, how fine it is to be on the ship!
Get aboard, passengers! Come this way!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!
Get aboard, passengers! Come this way!
Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

To eat supper among the sails
On an evening that’s so serene,
To eat supper among the sails
On an evening that’s so serene,
That doesn’t need anything, that doesn’t lack anything.
Santa Lucia. Santa Lucia.
That doesn’t need anything, that doesn’t lack anything.
Santa Lucia. Santa Lucia.

A sea so placid, a breeze so delightful,
Makes the mariner forget his troubles,
A sea so placid, a breeze so delightful,
Makes the mariner forget his troubles,
And he goes crying merrily,
“Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!”
And he goes crying merrily,
“Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!”

Oh, sweet Naples, oh, blessed soil,
Where Creation wanted to smile,
Oh, sweet Naples, oh blessed sun,
Where Creation wanted to smile,
You are the empire of harmony,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
You are the empire of harmony,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.

Now why do you tarry? Fair is the evening.
It breathes a little breeze, fresh and light.
Now why do you tarry? Fair is the evening.
It breathes a little breeze, fresh and light.
Come to my swift little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia.
Come to my swift little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia

***

I remember the first time I heard this song is from Looney Tunes. LOL. Bugs bunny sang while rowing a boat down the river with his girlfren. Hahaz. So cute.

I've found out that this song is an Italian folk song that is translated into many languages. =)




Refer to: Santa Lucia Lyrics & Origin


Lovely! =)