Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu – Bilingual Lyrics Italian/English

• By: Domenico Modugno
• Album: 100 Songs Italy

Lyrics & Translation

Experience the pure joy and freedom of "Nel Blu Dipinto di Blu" (Volare) by Domenico Modugno. This iconic Italian song, a global phenomenon, will transport you with its uplifting melody and poetic lyrics, offering a glimpse into dreams and the boundless spirit of soaring.

[English]

I think a dream like this will never return

I painted my hands and face blue

Then suddenly I was caught by the wind

And I began to fly in the infinite sky

To fly, oh, oh

To sing, oh, oh, oh, oh

In the blue, painted blue

Happy to be up there

And I flew, flew happy higher than the sun and even higher

While the world slowly disappeared far away down there

A sweet music played just for me

To fly, oh, oh

To sing, oh, oh, oh, oh

In the blue, painted blue

Happy to be up there

But all dreams fade at dawn because

When the moon sets, it takes them with it

But I keep dreaming in your beautiful eyes

That are blue like a sky dotted with stars

To fly, oh, oh

To sing, oh, oh, oh, oh

In the blue of your blue eyes

Happy to be down here

And I continue to fly happy higher than the sun and even higher

While the world slowly disappears in your blue eyes

Your voice is a sweet music that plays for me

To fly, oh, oh

To sing, oh, oh, oh, oh

In the blue of your blue eyes

Happy to be down here

In the blue of your blue eyes

Happy to be down here

With you!

...

[Italian]

Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più

Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu

Poi d'improvviso venivo dal vento rapito

E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito

Volare, oh, oh

Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh

Nel blu, dipinto di blu

Felice di stare lassù

E volavo volavo felice più in alto del sole ed ancora più su

Mentre il mondo pian piano spariva lontano laggiù

Una musica dolce suonava soltanto per me

Volare, oh, oh

Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh

Nel blu, dipinto di blu

Felice di stare lassù

Ma tutti i sogni nell'alba svaniscon perché

Quando tramonta, la luna li porta con sé

Ma io continuo a sognare negli occhi tuoi belli

Che sono blu come un cielo trapunto di stelle

Volare, oh, oh

Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh

Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu

Felice di stare quaggiù

E continuo a volare felice più in alto del sole ed ancora più su

Mentre il mondo pian piano scompare negli occhi tuoi blu

La tua voce è una musica dolce che suona per me

Volare, oh, oh

Cantare, oh, oh, oh, oh

Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu

Felice di stare quaggiù

Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu

Felice di stare quaggiù

Con te!

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
sogno /ˈsɔɲɲo/ B1	noun - dream
volare /voˈlaːre/ B2	verb - to fly
dipinto /diˈpinto/ B2	noun - painting, painting work adjective - painted
cielo /ˈtʃɛːlo/ A2	noun - sky
felice /feˈliːtʃe/ A2	adjective - happy
stare /ˈstaːre/ A2	verb - to stay, to remain
musica /ˈmuːzika/ A2	noun - music
sogno /ˈsɔɲɲo/ B1	noun - dream
vento /ˈvɛnto/ A2	noun - wind
mai /mai/ A1	adverb - never
più /pju/ A1	adverb - more
alto /ˈalto/ A2	adjective - high
sole /soˈle/ A2	noun - sun

Key Grammar Structures

• Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (implied) and Negative Adverb

  ➔ The verb “Penso” (I think) often introduces a clause that would take the subjunctive mood, expressing doubt or uncertainty, though it isn't explicitly used here. “mai più” means "never again" and shows negation.

• Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu

  ➔ Reflexive Verb in the Imperfect Tense

  ➔ “Mi dipingevo” (I was painting myself) is a reflexive verb in the imperfect tense, indicating a repeated or ongoing action in the past. It emphasizes the action being done to oneself.

• Poi d'improvviso venivo dal vento rapito

  ➔ Passive Voice (with implied agent)

  ➔ “venivo dal vento rapito” (I was being carried away by the wind) is a passive construction. The agent (the wind) is specified, but the sentence emphasizes the experience of being carried away.

• E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito

  ➔ Imperfect Tense with 'a' + Infinitive (expressing ongoing action)

  ➔ “incominciavo a volare” (I was beginning to fly) uses the imperfect tense to describe an action in progress in the past. The structure “a + infinitive” after “incominciavo” emphasizes the beginning and continuation of the action.

• Felice di stare lassù

  ➔ Gerund with implied subject (Ellipsis)

  ➔ “Felice di stare” (Happy to be) uses a gerund (“stare”) to express being in a state of happiness. The subject, understood as “io” (I), is omitted for brevity.

• Mentre il mondo pian piano spariva lontano laggiù

  ➔ Imperfect Tense, Adverbial Phrases, Demonstrative Adverb

  ➔ “spariva” (was disappearing) is in the imperfect tense. “pian piano” (slowly) is an adverbial phrase. “laggiù” (down there) is a demonstrative adverb, indicating a distant location.

• Ma tutti i sogni nell'alba svaniscon perché

  ➔ Present Simple (general truth), Cause-Effect Connector

  ➔ “svaniscon” (disappear) is in the present simple tense, expressing a general truth or habit. “perché” (because) connects the cause (dawn) and the effect (dreams disappearing).