4 marzo 1943 [English translation]

Says that he was a handsome man

and came, came from the sea,

he spoke another language

but he knew how to love.

And, on that day, he took my mother

on a beautiful meadow,

the sweetest hour

before being killed.

So she was left alone in the room,

in the room on the port

with the only dress

every day a little shorter.

And even though she didn’t know either the name

or the country

she waited for me as a gift of love

since the first month.

She turned sixteen

on that day, my mother.

The barroom verses,

she sang them as a lullaby.

And holding me to her chest that tasted,

that tastes of the sea,

she played at being a woman

with a baby to be swaddled.

And perhaps it was as a game

or perhaps for love

that she wanted to name me

after our Lord.

Of her short life, the memory,

the biggest memory

is all in this name

that I carry with me.

And even now that I play cards

and drink wine

for the people on the port

my name is baby Jesus.1

And even now that I play cards

and drink wine

for the people on the port

my name is baby Jesus.

And even now that I play cards

and drink wine

for the people on the port

my name is baby Jesus.

1. The translation of the original lyrics, before they were modified so that the song could be allowed to participate in the 1971 San Remo Festival, is “And even now that I curse and drink wine for the thieves and the whores I am baby Jesus.”