Santa Lucia

This article is about the Neapolitan song. For the saint, see Saint Lucy.

For other uses, see Saint Lucia (disambiguation).

Not to be confused with Santa Lucia Luntana by E. A. Mario.

Santa Lucia is a traditional Neapolitan song. It was transcribed by Teodoro Cottrau (1827–1879) and published by the Cottrau firm, as a "barcarolla", at Naples in 1849. Cottrau translated it from Napuletano into Italian during the first stage of the Risorgimento, 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).

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

In the United States, an early edition of the song, with an English translation by Thomas Oliphant, was published by M. McCaffrey, Baltimore. Perhaps the definitive 20th century recording of the song was that of Enrico Caruso, the great Neapolitan opera singer.

The song has also been recorded by Elvis Presley on the 1965 album Elvis for Everyone.

In Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway, "Santa Lucia" has been given various lyrics to accommodate it to the winter-light festival of Saint Lucy, at the darkest time of the year. The three most famous lyrics versions in Swedish are Luciasången, aka 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”).

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

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

Use in films and televisionThe song has been sung in several films. It was performed by Elvis Presley in Viva Las Vegas. It can be heard in the Marx Brothers film A Night at the Opera. The end of the song is chanted by David Kessler and Jack Goodman as they are walking in the rain in the English countryside in An American Werewolf in London.

On television, an off-key rendition by Don Knotts as Barney Fife was performed on The Andy Griffith Show. The song is performed in the episode "The Song Festers" as the feature song of the Mayberry choir "sent off to New York" for its annual spring concert. In the Tom and Jerry episode Cat and Dupli-cat, Tom is singing this song in the beginning of the cartoon.

Original Italian 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 sì placida, vento sì caro,
Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro,
Mare sì placida, 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 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!

English translation

On the sea shimmers the silver star.
The wave is peaceful, prosperous is the wind.
On the sea shimmers the silver star.
The wave is peaceful, prosperous is the wind.
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

With this breeze, so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful star on the ship!
With this breeze, so gentle,
Oh, how beautiful star on the ship!
Its passengers, come on!
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Its passengers, come on!
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

In between the tents, dinner invitations
On such a quiet evening,
In between the tents, dinner invitations
On such a quiet evening,
Who does not demands, desires to those who do not.
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Who does not demands, desires to those who do not.
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

Sea so calm, the wind so dear,
Forget makes the thistles in marine
Sea so calm, the wind so dear,
Forget makes the thistles in marine
It should be shouting with joy,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
It should be shouting with joy,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

O sweet Naples, or wont blessed
Where would smile creation,
O sweet Naples, or wont blessed
Where would smile creation,
You are the empire of harmony,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
You are the empire of harmony,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

Or to be late? The evening is beautiful.
A little breeze blows fresh and light.
Or to be late? The evening is beautiful.
A little breeze blows fresh and light.
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!
Come quickly my boat,
Saint Lucy! Saint Lucy!

Other performers

One of the notable versions of this song is the one by Hayley Westenra in her album Treasure (Hayley Westenra album).

External links

• "Santa Lucia" sung by Enrico Caruso
• "Santa Lucia" free Sheet Music for piano
• Choral Public Domain Library