Brèva e Tivàn – Bilingual Lyrics Italian/English

• By: Davide Van De Sfroos

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the rugged beauty of the Lombard dialect through Davide Van De Sfroos's "Brèva e Tivàn." This song offers a unique opportunity to learn a language deeply connected to the landscape of Lake Como. Its powerful storytelling and vivid imagery of nature make it a compelling and memorable way to experience the expressive potential of this regional Italian language.

[English]

Brèva and Tivàn, Brèva and Tivàn,

The sail flutters and the helm is in our hands,

Clear Valtena and dark Valtena,

It's a game of checkers with a sky that terrifies...

Sun shining on the waves and then drifting away...

The fog begins to threaten with a storm,

The fog that on the shore makes everyone pray,

They grab me by the arm, I just want to refuse...

And the boat tilts and seems about to sink,

Like a little boat in the middle of the lake...

The lake that’s tricky, the lake that betrays,

Lightning flashes and the sky roars...

Brèva and Tivàn, Brèva and Tivàn,

They pull and they grind and carry you far away,

Look to the right and look to the left,

The anchor calls but the boat keeps going...

But right here I am… in the middle of the storm,

Beyond the balls that I really like so much...

And right here I am… in the middle of the storm,

Beyond the balls that I really like so much...

...

[Italian]

Bréva e Tivàn, Bréva e Tivàn,

La vela la se sgùnfia e'l timòn l'è in'di mann,

Valteléna ciàra e Valteléna scüra,

L'è una partida a dama cun't el cieel che fa pagüra...

Sòlti in söe l'unda e pö se làssi nà...

El soo che fra un pezzètt el tàca a tempestà,

El soo che in söe la riva i henn là tücc a pregà,

Me ciàpen per un màtt che vöer dumà negà...

E la barca la dùnda e la paar che la fùnda,

Che baraùnda vèss che in mèzz al laagh...

El laagh che l'e' balòss, el laagh che'l tradìss,

El fülmin lüsìss e'l cieel el tusìss...

Brèva e Tivànn. Brèva e Tivànn,

I tìren e i mòlen e i te pòrten luntàn,

Vàrda de scià e vàrda de là,

La spùnda la ciàma ma la barca la và...

Ma urmài sun chè... in mèzz al tempuraal

Tuìvess föe di bàll che a me me piaas inscè...

E urmài sun chè... in mèzz al tempuraal

Tuìvess föe di bàll che a me me piaas inscè...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
vela /ˈvɛla/ A2	noun - sail of a boat
timòn /tiˈmɔn/ B1	noun - steering wheel of a boat
squnfia /sɡʊnˈfi.a/ C2	verb - to emerge or unfold
scüra /ˈʃyɾa/ B2	adjective - dark, gloomy
partida /parˈti.da/ B2	noun - game, match
cièl /tʃɛˈel/ B1	noun - sky
pagüra /paˈɡy.ra/ C1	noun - fear, dread
onda /ˈonda/ A2	noun - wave
tempesta /temˈpɛs.ta/ B1	noun - storm
barca /ˈbar.ka/ A2	noun - boat
balòss /baˈlostʃ/ C2	noun - scoundrel, villain
balòss /baˈlostʃ/ C2	noun - scoundrel, villain
tusìss /tuˈsiss/ C2	verb - to cough