Proteggiti da me – Bilingual Lyrics Italian/English

• By: Marco Mengoni

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the depths of Italian emotion with Marco Mengoni's 'Proteggiti da me'. This song offers a unique opportunity to understand themes of self-awareness and regret, teaching you to express complex feelings while grasping nuanced Italian phrases. Discover the beauty of vulnerability in music and enrich your language skills.

[English]

I don't really like compliments

Maybe I deserve a few

For having led you on

Even just imagining eyes that aren't yours

So let me be damned

Let my name be erased

And let the storm break loose

Drench my bold face

Let a lightning bolt strike me head-on

If only I had realized it was all wrong

That it was just another collision between rain and fire

Damn my jealousy that gets out of hand

Because I admit I'd prefer your indifference to you leaving

How do I feel now?

I'd say pretty much like someone who

Who despite the rough journey has renewed their courage

And found a new limit from fear

But now take my hands, take my hands, take my hands now

And listen to me because

Because not everything is lost

Not all the good is lost

An universe of alternatives

If only I had realized it was all wrong

That it was just another collision between rain and fire

Damn my jealousy that gets out of hand

Because I admit I'd prefer your indifference to you leaving

Protect yourself from me if you know how

Protect yourself from me, from me, from me

If you know how

Protect yourself from me, from me

If you know how

Protect yourself from me, from me, from me

If you know how

If only I had realized it was all wrong

That it was just another collision between rain and fire

And damn my jealousy that gets out of hand

Because I admit I'd prefer your indifference to you leaving

Protect yourself from me, if you know how

And I'll turn off the light like this

You'll go away so fast

To protect yourself from me

...

[Italian]

Non amo tanto i complimenti

Un po' me li meriterei

Per averti preso in giro

Anche solo immaginando occhi che non sono i tuoi

E allora che io sia dannato

Sia cancellato il nome mio

E si scateni la tempesta

Bagni la mia faccia tosta

Mi colpisca in pieno un fulmine

Che se solo l'avessi capito che era tutto sbagliato

Che era solo l'ennesimo impatto fra la pioggia ed il fuoco

Maledetta la mia gelosia che mi sfugge di mano

Perché ammetto che alla tua partenza preferisco la tua indifferenza

Come mi sento adesso?

Direi più o meno uguale a quello che

Che nonostante il brutto viaggio ha rinnovato il suo coraggio

E dalla paura un nuovo limite

Peró adesso prendimi le mani, prendimi le mani, prendimi le mani adesso

E ascoltami perché

Perché non tutto è andato perso

Non tutto il bene è andato perso

Di alternative un universo

Che se solo l'avessi capito che era tutto sbagliato

Che era solo l'ennesimo impatto fra la pioggia ed il fuoco

Maledetta la mia gelosia che mi sfugge di mano

Perché ammetto che alla tua partenza preferisco la tua indifferenza

Proteggiti da me se sai come fare

Proteggiti da me, da me, da me

Se sai come fare

Proteggiti da me, da me

Se sai come fare

Proteggiti da me, da me, da me

Se sai come fare

Che se solo l'avessi capito che era tutto sbagliato

Che era solo l'ennesimo impatto fra la pioggia ed il fuoco

E maledetta la mia gelosia che mi sfugge di mano

Perché ammetto che alla tua partenza preferisco la tua indifferenza

Proteggiti da me, se sai come fare

E spegneró così la luce

Te ne andrai così veloce

Per proteggerti da me

Key Grammar Structures

• Un po' me li meriterei

  ➔ Conditional Present + Combined Pronouns

  ➔ ''meriterei'' is the conditional present of 'meritare' (to deserve), indicating a hypothetical or desired action. ''me li'' combines the indirect object pronoun 'mi' (to me) and the direct object pronoun 'li' (them, referring to 'i complimenti').

• E allora che io sia dannato

  ➔ Subjunctive for Exhortation/Wish/Curse

  ➔ The ''che'' introduces a subjunctive clause (''io sia dannato'') expressing a strong wish, desire, or in this context, a curse or self-condemnation. It's often used with verbs like 'volere che,' 'sperare che,' or, as here, independently to express an immediate, strong sentiment.

• Che se solo l'avessi capito che era tutto sbagliato

  ➔ Mixed Conditional (Third Type Conditional 'se + congiuntivo trapassato' with Indicative Imperfect consequence)

  ➔ This is a complex conditional structure. ''se solo l'avessi capito'' (if only I had understood it) uses the *congiuntivo trapassato* (past perfect subjunctive), indicating a hypothetical condition in the past that did not happen. The consequence, ''era tutto sbagliato'' (everything was wrong), uses the *imperfetto indicativo* (imperfect indicative), stating a fact that was true in the past, implying that the speaker now realizes this fact because they 'had understood' the condition.

• Maledetta la mia gelosia che mi sfugge di mano

  ➔ Past Participle as Adjective + Idiomatic Expression

  ➔ ''Maledetta'' is the past participle of 'maledire' (to curse), used here as an adjective modifying 'gelosia' (jealousy), meaning 'cursed.' ''mi sfugge di mano'' is an idiomatic expression meaning 'to get out of hand' or 'to slip from one's grasp.' 'mi' is a reflexive/indirect object pronoun.

• Perché ammetto che alla tua partenza preferisco la tua indifferenza

  ➔ Verb Pattern 'Preferire X a Y'

  ➔ The verb 'preferire' (to prefer) is followed by ''X a Y,'' meaning 'to prefer X over Y.' In this sentence, the speaker prefers ''la tua indifferenza'' (your indifference) ''alla tua partenza'' (to your departure).

• E dalla paura un nuovo limite

  ➔ Ellipsis (Omission of Verb) + Preposition 'da'

  ➔ This sentence demonstrates ellipsis, where a verb (like 'è nato,' 'è sorto,' or 'è emerso' – 'was born,' 'arose,' or 'emerged') is omitted for conciseness or stylistic effect, but implied by the context. The preposition ''dalla'' (da + la) means 'from the' or 'out of the,' indicating origin or source.

• Peró adesso prendimi le mani

  ➔ Imperative Mood + Combined Pronoun

  ➔ ''prendimi'' is the informal singular imperative form of 'prendere' (to take) combined with the direct object pronoun 'mi' (me). This construction instructs someone directly to perform an action on the speaker.

• Non tutto il bene è andato perso

  ➔ Idiomatic Verb Phrase 'andare perso'

  ➔ ''andare perso'' is an idiomatic verb phrase meaning 'to be lost' or 'to go to waste.' It uses the verb 'andare' (to go) as an auxiliary with the past participle 'perso' (lost), similar to a passive construction but more commonly used for things that are wasted or vanish. 'non tutto' means 'not everything.'

• Proteggiti da me se sai come fare

  ➔ Reflexive Imperative + Preposition 'da' + Conditional Clause

  ➔ ''Proteggiti'' is the informal singular reflexive imperative form of 'proteggersi' (to protect oneself), meaning 'protect yourself.' The preposition ''da me'' means 'from me,' indicating separation or protection. ''se sai come fare'' is a conditional clause meaning 'if you know how to do it.'