The Story behind "Caruso" song

"Caruso" is a song written by Italian singer-songwriter Lucio Dalla (1943-2012) in 1986.

It is dedicated to Enrico Caruso, an Italian operatic first lyric tenor then dramatic tenor.

Following Lucio Dalla's death, the song entered the Italian Singles Chart, peaking at number two for two consecutive weeks.

The song simply tells about the pain and longings of a man who is about to die while he is looking into the eyes of a girl who was very dear to him.

The lyrics contain various subtle references to people and places in Caruso's life.

Ferdinando Sapio | Sorrento

Enrico Caruso (1873-1921) was an acclaimed Italian operatic singer who was one of the greatest and most sought-after singers during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Unfortunately he lived a very difficult and rather unhappy life, having had many challenges and problems with Italian opera houses, but gained more fame and success in the United States.

Lara Fabian and Hauser | Caruso

Caruso Lyrics by Lucio Dalla

Here where the sea shines and where the wind blows strong

Qui dove il mare luccica e dove tira forte il vento

On an old terrace in front of the Gulf of Sorrento

Su una vecchia terrazza davanti al golfo di Sorriento

A man embraces a girl after she had cried

Un uomo abbraccia una ragazza dopo che aveva pianto

Then he clears his voice and starts singing again

Poi si schiarisce la voce e ricomincia il canto

I love you very much

Te voglio bene assai

But so much, so much, you know

Ma tanto ma tanto bene sai

It's a chain by now

E' una catena ormai

That melts the blood in the veins, you know

Che scioglie il sangue dint'e vene sai

He saw the lights out on the sea, thought of the nights there in America

Vide le luci in mezzo al mare penso alle notti la in America

But they were only the lamps and the white wake of a propeller

Ma erano solo le lampare e la bianca scia di un'elica

He felt the pain in the music rise from the piano

Senti il dolore nella musica si alzo dal pianoforte

Lucio Dalla (1943-2012)

But when he saw the moon come out from behind a cloud

Ma quando vide la luna uscire da una nuvola

Death seemed sweeter to him

Gli sembro piu dolce anche la morte

He looked into the girl's eyes, those eyes as green as the sea

Guardo negli occhi la ragazza quegli occhi verdi come il mare

Then suddenly a tear came out and he thought he was drowning

Poi all'improvviso usci una lacrima e lui credette di affogare

I love you very much

Te voglio bene assai

But so much, so much, you know

Ma tanto ma tanto bene sai

It's a chain by now

E' una catena ormai

That melts the blood in the veins, you know

Che scioglie il sangue dint'e vene sai

old terrace in front of the Gulf of Sorrento

The power of the lyrics where every drama is a fake

La potenza della lirica dove ogni dramma é un falso

That with a bit of makeup and mimicry you can become someone else

Che con un po' di trucco e con la mimica puoi diventare un altro

So everything became small, even the nights there in America

Cosi divento tutto piccolo anche le notti la in America

You turn and see your life like the wake of a propeller

Ti volti e vedi la tua vita come la scia di un'elica

I love you very much

Te voglio bene assai

But so much, so much, you know

Ma tanto ma tanto bene sai

It's a chain by now

E' una catena ormai

That melts the blood in the veins, you know

Che scioglie il sangue dint'e vene sai

I love you very much

Te voglio bene assai

But so much, so much, you know

Ma tanto ma tanto bene sai

It's a chain by now

E' una catena ormai

That melts the blood in the veins, you know

Che scioglie il sangue dint'e vene sai

In the veins, you know

Dint'e vene sai

Ferdinando Sapio | Sorrento