Albachiara – Bilingual Lyrics Italian/English

• By: Vasco Rossi

Lyrics & Translation

Embark on a journey into the soul of Italian rock with Vasco Rossi's iconic "Albachiara." This song is a beautiful and intimate portrait of adolescence, offering a unique window into Italian culture and language. Through its evocative lyrics, you can learn descriptive Italian phrases, understand nuances of Italian expression, and delve into themes of innocence and introspection. Its enduring popularity and status as a concert closer make it special, showcasing the power of simple yet profound observations translated into timeless music. Engaging with "Albachiara" will not only enhance your Italian vocabulary but also deepen your appreciation for one of Italy's most beloved artists.

[English]

You breathe softly to avoid making noise

You fall asleep in the evening and wake up with the sun

You are clear like a dawn

You are fresh like the air

You turn red if someone looks at you

And you are fantastic when you are absorbed

In your problems, in your thoughts

You dress lazily

You never wear anything that could attract attention

A detail, just to make you look

...

You breathe softly to avoid making noise

You fall asleep in the evening and wake up with the sun

You are clear like a dawn

You are fresh like the air

You turn red if someone looks at you

And you are fantastic when you are absorbed

In your problems, in your thoughts

You dress lazily

You never wear anything that could attract attention

A detail, to make you look

And with a clean face

You walk down the street eating an apple

With your school books, you like to study

You shouldn't be ashamed of it

And when you look with those big eyes

Maybe a bit too sincere, sincere, yes

You can see what you think, what you dream

And sometimes you have strange thoughts

With one hand, a hand brushes you

You alone in the room

And the whole world outside

...

[Italian]

Respiri piano per non far rumore

Ti addormenti di sera e ti risvegli col sole

Sei chiara come un'alba

Sei fresca come l'aria

Diventi rossa se qualcuno ti guarda

E sei fantastica quando sei assorta

Nei tuoi problemi, nei tuoi pensieri

Ti vesti svogliatamente

Non metti mai niente che possa attirare attenzione

Un particolare, solo per farti guardare

Respiri piano per non far rumore

Ti addormenti di sera e ti risvegli col sole

Sei chiara come un'alba

Sei fresca come l'aria

Diventi rossa se qualcuno ti guarda

E sei fantastica quando sei assorta

Nei tuoi problemi, nei tuoi pensieri

Ti vesti svogliatamente

Non metti mai niente che possa attirare attenzione

Un particolare, per farti guardare

E con la faccia pulita

Cammini per strada mangiando una mela

Coi libri di scuola, ti piace studiare

Non te ne devi vergognare

E quando guardi con quegli occhi grandi

Forse un po' troppo sinceri, sinceri, sì

Si vede quello che pensi, quello che sogni

E qualche volta fai pensieri strani

Con una mano, una mano ti sfiori

Tu sola dentro la stanza

E tutto il mondo fuori

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
respiri /reˈspiːri/ B1	verb - to breathe
rumore /ruˈmoːre/ A2	noun - noise
sera /ˈseːra/ A1	noun - evening
sole /ˈsoːle/ A1	noun - sun
chiara /ˈkjaːra/ A2	adjective - clear, bright
alba /ˈalba/ A2	noun - dawn
fresca /ˈfreska/ A2	adjective - fresh
aria /ˈaːrja/ A1	noun - air
rossa /ˈrossa/ A1	adjective - red
fantastica /fanˈtaːstika/ B2	adjective - fantastic
assorta /asˈsorta/ C1	adjective - absorbed, engrossed
problemi /proˈblɛːmi/ A2	noun - problems
pensieri /penˈsjɛːri/ B1	noun - thoughts
svogliatamente /zvoʎʎataˈmente/ C2	adverb - reluctantly, listlessly
attenzione /attenˈtsjoːne/ B1	noun - attention
faccia /ˈfattʃa/ A1	noun - face
strada /ˈstraːda/ A1	noun - street
mela /ˈmeːla/ A1	noun - apple
occhi /ˈɔkki/ A1	noun - eyes

Key Grammar Structures

• Respiri piano per non far rumore

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose (per + infinitive)

  ➔ Uses 'per non far rumore' (to not make noise) to express the purpose of the action.

• Ti addormenti di sera e ti risvegli col sole

  ➔ Reflexive verbs (addormentarsi, risvegliarsi) and prepositional phrases indicating time (di sera, col sole)

  ➔ `Ti addormenti` uses the reflexive pronoun 'ti' indicating the subject is performing the action on themselves (falling asleep). 'Di sera' and 'col sole' are phrases using prepositions to indicate time.

• Sei chiara come un'alba

  ➔ Simile (come + noun)

  ➔ Uses 'come un'alba' (like a dawn) to compare the subject's clarity to that of a dawn.

• Diventi rossa se qualcuno ti guarda

  ➔ Conditional sentence (se + present indicative, present indicative)

  ➔ This is a type 0 conditional, expressing a general truth. 'Se qualcuno ti guarda' (if someone looks at you), 'diventi rossa' (you turn red).

• Non metti mai niente che possa attirare attenzione

  ➔ Subjunctive in relative clauses (che possa)

  ➔ The subjunctive 'possa' is used because the relative clause 'che possa attirare attenzione' describes something indefinite or hypothetical.

• Coi libri di scuola, ti piace studiare

  ➔ Use of 'piacere' (to like) with indirect object pronoun (ti) and infinitive (studiare)

  ➔ 'Ti piace studiare' literally translates to 'studying pleases you,' using the verb 'piacere' to express liking something. 'Ti' is the indirect object pronoun.

• Non te ne devi vergognare

  ➔ Compound pronominal verb ('vergognarsi' - to be ashamed) with particle 'ne' and modal verb 'dovere'.

  ➔ 'Vergognarsi' is a reflexive verb meaning 'to be ashamed.' 'Te ne devi vergognare' means 'You shouldn't be ashamed of it.' 'Ne' refers to something previously mentioned or understood from the context.