Certe notti – Bilingual Lyrics Italian/English

• By: Ligabue
• Album: Buon Compleanno Elvis

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the Italian language and culture through Ligabue's "Certe notti." This popular pop-rock song offers a glimpse into the feelings of freedom and camaraderie experienced during memorable nights, making it a special way to connect with Italian expressions and emotions.

[English]

Some nights, the car is warm

And where it takes you, she decides

Some nights, the road doesn’t matter

What matters is feeling that you're moving

Some nights, Neil Young’s radio plays

Seems to understand who you are

Some nights resemble a vice

That you don’t want to quit, never stop

...

Some nights, you make a bit of noise

So they know you’re not changing anymore

Those nights among thighs and mosquitos

And fog and places you speak to like friends

Some nights, you have some wounds

That a friend of yours will disinfect

Some nights, with closed bars

And at the first gas station, someone will celebrate

And you can stay alone

Some nights here

That those who settle are happy, so-so

Some nights, you’re awake

Or you’ll never be truly awake

We’ll see each other at Mario’s sooner or later

...

Some nights, you feel like the king

Of a place that’s empty during the day

Some fortunate nights

You knock on the door of someone like you

There’s a night that holds you in her arms

A little mother, a little slut, just how she is

Those nights of making love

Until it hurts, as long as there’s enough

And you can stay alone

Some nights here

That if you’re content, you enjoy, so-so

Some nights are nights

Or we give them to you

Since Mario opens again, sooner or later

Some nights here, some nights here

Some nights here, some nights

Some nights, you’re just happier

More gluttonous, more naive, more of a fool

Those nights are really that vice

That I don’t want to quit, never stop

And you can stay alone

Some nights here

That those who settle are happy, so, so

Some nights you’re awake

Or you’ll never be truly awake

We’ll see each other at Mario’s sooner or later

Some nights here

Some nights here

Some nights here

...

[Italian]

Certe notti la macchina è calda

E dove ti porta lo decide lei

Certe notti la strada non conta

E quello che conta è sentire che vai

Certe notti la radio che passa Neil Young

Sembra avere capito chi sei

Certe notti somigliano a un vizio

Che tu non vuoi smettere, smettere mai

Certe notti fai un po' di cagnara

Che sentano che non cambierai più

Quelle notti fra cosce e zanzare

E nebbia e locali a cui dai del tu

Certe notti c'hai qualche ferita

Che qualche tua amica disinfetterà

Certe notti coi bar che son chiusi

E al primo autogrill c'è chi festeggerà

E si può restare soli

Certe notti qui

Che chi s'accontenta gode, così così

Certe notti sei sveglio

O non sarai sveglio mai

Ci vediamo da Mario prima o poi

Certe notti ti senti padrone

Di un posto che tanto di giorno non c'è

Certe notti se sei fortunato

Bussi alla porta di chi è come te

C'è la notte che ti tiene fra le sue tette

Un po' mamma, un po' porca com'è

Quelle notti da farci l'amore

Fin quando fa male, fin quando ce n'è

E si può restare soli

Certe notti qui

Che se ti accontenti godi, così così

Certe notti son notti

O le regaliamo a voi

Tanto Mario riapre, prima o poi

Certe notti qui, certe notti qui

Certe notti qui, certe notti

Certe notti sei solo più allegro

Più ingordo, più ingenuo e coglione che puoi

Quelle notti son proprio quel vizio

Che non voglio smettere, smettere, mai

E si può restare soli

Certe notti qui

Che chi s'accontenta gode, così, così

Certe notti sei sveglio

O non sarai sveglio mai

Ci vediamo da Mario prima o poi

Certe notti qui

Certe notti qui

Certe notti qui

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
macchina /makˈkiːna/ B1	noun - car
calda /ˈkalda/ A2	adjective - hot, warm
porta /ˈpɔrta/ A2	noun - door
strada /ˈstrada/ A1	noun - street, road
conta /ˈkɔnta/ B1	verb - counts, matters
cerca /ˈtʃɛrka/ A2	adjective - near
ferita /feˈrita/ B2	noun - wound, injury
amore /aˈmoːre/ B1	noun - love
notte /ˈnɔtte/ A1	noun - night
godo /ˈɡoːdo/ B1	verb - enjoy
gente /ˈdʒɛnte/ A2	noun - people
dormire /dormˈire/ A2	verb - to sleep
padrone /paˈdroːne/ B2	noun - owner, boss

Key Grammar Structures

• Certe notti la macchina è calda

  ➔ Present tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the present tense to describe a current state, as in "the car is hot".

• Certe notti la strada non conta

  ➔ Negation

  ➔ The phrase uses negation to express that something does not matter, as in "the road does not count".

• Certe notti somigliano a un vizio

  ➔ Simile

  ➔ The phrase uses a simile to compare nights to a vice, indicating a strong emotional connection.

• Certe notti sei sveglio

  ➔ Imperative mood

  ➔ The phrase implies an imperative mood, suggesting a command or strong suggestion to be awake.

• Certe notti ti senti padrone

  ➔ Reflexive verbs

  ➔ The phrase uses a reflexive verb to indicate that the subject feels in control, as in "you feel like a master".

• Certe notti c'hai qualche ferita

  ➔ Indefinite pronouns

  ➔ The phrase uses an indefinite pronoun to refer to unspecified injuries, as in "you have some wounds".

• Certe notti coi bar che son chiusi

  ➔ Relative clauses

  ➔ The phrase uses a relative clause to provide additional information about the bars being closed.

• E si può restare soli

  ➔ Impersonal constructions

  ➔ The phrase uses an impersonal construction to express a general truth, as in "one can remain alone".