Italian listening practice with side-by-side translation
The song Parole, parole, about empty words, was written in 1972 by Giovanni Ferrio, Matteo Chiosso, Leo Chiosso, and Giancarlo Del Re and performed by Mina and Alberto Lupo.
Listening comprehension: See the links at the bottom for lessons related to the phrases in italics.
| Parole, parole | Words, Words |
| – Cara, cosa mi succede stasera, ti guardo ed è come la prima volta |
Translation
– Darling, what’s happening to me tonight
I’m looking at you and it’s like the first time |
| – Che cosa sei, che cosa sei, che cosa sei | Translation
– What are you, what are you, what are you
|
| – Non vorrei parlare – Cosa sei |
Translation
– I don’t want to talk
– What are you |
| – Ma tu sei la frase d’amore cominciata e mai finita | Translation
– But you are the words (lit: sentence) of love that began and never ended
|
| – Non cambi mai, non cambi mai, non cambi mai | Translation
– You never change, you never change, you never change
|
| – Tu sei il mio ieri, il mio oggi | Translation
– You are my yesterday, my today
|
| – Proprio mai | Translation
– Never again
|
| – È il mio sempre, inquietudine | Translation
– It’s always my unrest
|
| – Adesso ormai ci puoi provare Chiamami tormento dai, già che ci sei |
Translation
– Now you can try it
Call me torment, come on, while you’re at it |
| – Tu sei come il vento che porta i violini e le rose | Translation
– You are like the wind that brings violins and roses
|
| – Caramelle non ne voglio più | Translation
– I don’t want any more candy
|
| – Certe volte non ti capisco | Translation
– Sometimes I don’t understand you
|
| – Le rose e violini Questa sera raccontali a un’altra Violini e rose li posso sentire Quando la cosa mi va, se mi va, Quando è il momento e dopo si vedrà |
Translation
– Roses and violins
Tell them to another tonight Violins and roses, I can understand them When I like it, if I like it When it is time and then we’ll see |
| – Una parola ancora – Parole, parole, parole – Ascoltami – Parole, parole, parole – Ti prego – Parole, parole, parole – Io ti giuro |
Translation
– One more word
– Words, words, words – Listen to me – Words, words, words – Please – Words, words, words – I swear to you |
| – Parole, parole, parole, parole, parole soltanto parole, parole tra noi | Translation
– Words, words, words, words, words only words, words between us
|
| – Ecco il mio destino, parlarti, parlarti come la prima volta | Translation
– Here is my destiny, talking to you, talking to you like the first time
|
| – Che cosa sei, che cosa sei, che cosa sei | Translation
– What are you, what are you, what are you
|
| – No, non dire nulla, c’è la notte che parla | Translation
– No, don’t say anything, it’s the night that speaks
|
| – Cosa sei – La romantica notte |
Translation
– What are you
– The romantic night |
| – Non cambi mai, non cambi mai, non cambi mai | Translation
– You never change, you never change, you never change
|
| – Tu sei il mio sogno proibito | Translation
– You are my forbidden dream
|
| – Proprio mai – È vero, speranza |
Translation
– Never again
– It’s true, I hope |
| – Nessuno più ti può fermare Chiamami passione dai, hai visto mai |
Translation
– No one can stop you any more
Call me passion, go ahead, have you already seen |
| – Si spegne nei tuoi occhi la luna e si accendono i grilli | Translation
– The moon goes out in your eyes and the crickets light up
|
| – Caramelle non ne voglio più | Translation
– I don’t want any more candy
|
| – Se tu non ci fossi bisognerebbe inventarti | Translation
– If you weren’t there, you’d have to be invented
|
| – La luna ed i grilli Normalmente mi tengono sveglia Mentre io voglio dormire e sognare L’uomo che a volte c’è in te quando c’è Che parla meno Ma può piacere a me |
Translation
– The moon and the crickets
Normally they keep me awake When I want to sleep and dream The man who is sometimes in you when he’s there Who speaks less But he can please me |
| – Una parola ancora – Parole, parole, parole – Ascoltami – Parole, parole, parole – Ti prego – Parole, parole, parole – Io ti giuro |
Translation
– One more word
– Words, words, words – Listen to me – Words, words, words – Please – Words, words, words – I swear to you |
| – Parole, parole, parole, parole, parole soltanto parole, parole tra noi | Translation
– Words, words, words, words, words only words, words between us
|
| – Che cosa sei – Parole, parole, parole – Che cosa sei – Parole, parole, parole – Che cosa sei – Parole, parole, parole – Che cosa sei |
Translation
– What are you
– Words, words, words – What are you – Words, words, words – What are you – Words, words, words – What are you |
| – Parole, parole, parole, parole, parole soltanto parole, parole tra noi | Translation
– Words, words, words, words, words only words, words between us
|
| Video courtesy of 45RPMHITS. | Translation by LKL |
Grammar comprehension
- la prima volta, il vento, i violini, le rose – definite articles
- Che cosa sei – essere (to be)
- tu, io – subject pronouns
- dai – dare (to give)
- un’altra, Una parola – indefinite articles
Reading practice: Biography of Mina Mazzini
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