Sto bene al mare – Bilingual Lyrics Italian/English

• By: Marco Mengoni, Sayf, Rkomi

Lyrics & Translation

Learning Italian with 'Sto bene al mare' offers a unique opportunity to explore nuanced language that goes beyond simple, happy summer vocabulary. The song's lyrics are rich with metaphor and contrast, allowing learners to delve into expressions of melancholy, social commentary, and complex emotions. Its blend of pop and rap provides exposure to different registers of the Italian language, from melodic singing to conversational rap, making it a special and culturally relevant song for language learners.

[English]

I'm good at the sea, at the sea

At the sea, I'm good at the sea

I have no reason to stay in the city

I feel better in caterpillar dens

It's not money nor a cookie mama-a-a

That makes me stay in a valley of cubes

I could have done like dad did

And understand something about pipes

To then end up with buddies in ba-a-ars

With Campari, Marlboros, and shouting

Can you see me in Cinecittà?

Playing the role of the most handsome actor

Saying phrases that tomorrow, who knows

If they'll make sense to get a ring

But can you see me, like you, in CityLife?

Clinking glasses with the kings of concrete

Celebrating a future that, you know

Changes color like the winds change

I'm good at the sea, at the sea

Oh, at the sea, I'm good at the sea

I'm good at the sea (oh-oh), at the sea

Oh, at the sea, I'm good at the sea

She's so warm and wet just out of the water

In her cosmetic mirror we're losing altitude

Catches the rain inside a straw hat

Millions of ways people fall in love

You're worth all the time to me, please hold on

How long does amnesia last, there's no future in existing

I need air, a fan, another detail

I got myself into trouble

I'm not good at the sea, I need to get used to it

It makes me think, mommy, how much we suffered

I have a summer to waste, this time I'll fix it

I whisper to her from behind because love is like that, blind

I'm good at the sea (I'm good at the sea), at the sea (a-at the sea)

Oh, at the sea (oh, at the sea), I'm good at the sea (oh-oh-oh)

I'm good at the sea (I'm good at the sea) (oh-oh), at the sea (a-at the sea)

Oh, at the sea (oh, at the sea), I'm good at the sea

(I'm good at the sea)

What happens on the other side of the sea?

(You're good at the sea)

With glasses and sunscreen while the land disappears

(I'm good at the sea)

You'll take a spiritual journey all the way to Timbuktu

So you don't fall into temptations like couture jeans (you're good at the sea)

To make one love enough for you

I'm good at the sea (at the sea), at the sea (at the sea)

At the sea (at the sea), at the sea (mhm)

I'm good at the sea (at the sea), at the sea (at the sea)

At the sea (at the sea), I'm good at the sea

I'm good at the sea (I'm good at the sea), at the sea (at the sea)

At the sea (at the sea), I'm good at the sea

...

[Italian]

Sto bene al mare, al mare

Al mare, sto bene al mare

Non ho motivo di stare in città

Mi sento meglio nelle tane dei bruchi

Non è il denaro né una cookie mama-a-a

Che mi fa stare in una valle di cubi

Potevo fare come ha fatto papà

E capirci qualche cosa di tubi

Per poi finire coi compari nei ba-a-ar

Con i Campari, le Marlboro e gli urli

Mi ci vedi tu a Cinecittà?

A fare il ruolo dell'attore più bello

A dire frasi che domani chissà

Se avranno un senso per avere un anello

Ma mi ci vedi tipo tu a CityLife?

A fare i cin cin con i re di cemento

A festeggiare di un futuro che, sai

Cambia colore come cambiano i venti

Sto bene al mare, al mare

Oh, al mare, sto bene al mare

Sto bene al mare (oh-oh), al mare

Oh, al mare, sto bene al mare

Lei è così calda e bagnata appena uscita dall'acqua

Nel suo specchio cosmetico stiamo perdendo quota

Cattura la pioggia dentro a un berretto di paglia

Milioni di modi con cui la gente si innamora

Mi vali tutto il tempo, ti prego, resisti

Quanto dura un'amnesia, non c'è futuro d'esistere

Mi serve aria, un ventaglio, un altro dettaglio

Mi sono ficcato in un guaio

Io non sto bene al mare, mi devo abituare

Mi fa pensare, mami, a quanto siamo stati male

Ho un'estate da sprecare, stavolta rimedio

Le sussurro da dietro perché l'amore è così, cieco

Sto bene al mare (sto bene al mare), al mare (a-al mare)

Oh, al mare (oh, al mare), sto bene al mare (oh-oh-oh)

Sto bene al mare (sto bene al mare) (oh-oh), al mare (a-al mare)

Oh, al mare (oh, al mare), sto bene al mare

(Sto bene al mare)

Cosa succede all'altra parte del mare?

(Stai bene al mare)

Con gli occhiali e con la crema solare mentre la terra scompare

(Sto bene al mare)

Farai un cammino spirituale fino a Timbuctù

Per non cadere in tentazioni come i jeans couture (stai bene al mare)

Farti bastare un amore soltanto

Sto bene al mare (al mare), al mare (al mare)

Al mare (al mare), al mare (mhm)

Sto bene al mare (al mare), al mare (al mare)

Al mare (al mare), sto bene al mare

Sto bene al mare (sto bene al mare), al mare (al mare)

Al mare (al mare), sto bene al mare

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mare /ˈma.re/ A1	noun - sea, ocean
città /tʃitˈta/ A1	noun - city, town
denaro /deˈna.ro/ A2	noun - money
attore /atˈto.re/ A2	noun - actor
ruolo /ˈrwɔ.lo/ B1	noun - role, part (in a play/film)
senso /ˈsɛn.so/ A2	noun - meaning, sense, direction
futuro /fuˈtu.ro/ A1	noun - future
colore /koˈlo.re/ A1	noun - color
vento /ˈvɛn.to/ A1	noun - wind
acqua /ˈak.kwa/ A1	noun - water
pioggia /ˈpjɔd.dʒa/ A2	noun - rain
innamorarsi /in.na.moˈrar.si/ B1	verb - to fall in love
resistere /reˈzis.te.re/ B1	verb - to resist, to endure, to hold out
guaio /ˈɡwa.jo/ B1	noun - trouble, mess, predicament
sprecare /spreˈka.re/ B1	verb - to waste, to squander
amore /aˈmo.re/ A1	noun - love
cieco /ˈtʃɛ.ko/ B1	adjective - blind
terra /ˈtɛr.ra/ A1	noun - earth, land, ground
tentazione /ten.tatˈtsjo.ne/ B2	noun - temptation
spirituale /spi.riˈtwa.le/ B2	adjective - spiritual

Key Grammar Structures

• Non ho motivo di stare in città

  ➔ Negation with 'non... motivo' and 'di' + infinitive for purpose/reason.

  ➔ The phrase "non ho motivo di + infinitive" means "I have no reason to do something". It uses standard negation with "non" and the preposition "di" linking the noun "motivo" to the infinitive "stare".

• Mi sento meglio nelle tane dei bruchi

  ➔ Reflexive verb, comparative adverb, and articulated prepositions.

  ➔ "Mi sento" is the reflexive verb "sentirsi" (to feel oneself). "Meglio" is the irregular comparative adverb of "bene" (well). "Nelle" is the articulated preposition "in + le" (in the), and "dei" is "di + i" (of the), showing possession or belonging.

• Mi ci vedi tu a Cinecittà?

  ➔ Double object pronouns ('mi', 'ci') and interrogative form.

  ➔ This sentence features a double pronoun construction. "Mi" is an indirect object pronoun (to me), and "ci" is a locative pronoun (there/in that place). The order is typically indirect/reflexive + direct/locative. "Vedi" is the verb "vedere" (to see) in the present tense.

• Se avranno un senso per avere un anello

  ➔ Conditional clause with 'se' + future tense, and 'per' + infinitive for purpose.

  ➔ "Se avranno" introduces a conditional clause (if they will have). "Avranno" is the future tense of "avere" (to have). "Per avere" uses the preposition "per" followed by an infinitive verb to indicate purpose or objective ("in order to have").

• Lei è così calda e bagnata appena uscita dall'acqua

  ➔ Adverb 'così' for emphasis, and 'appena' + past participle for immediate past action.

  ➔ "Così" is an adverb meaning "so" or "such" used to intensify adjectives ("così calda e bagnata" - so hot and wet). "Appena uscita" is a condensed clause, meaning "as soon as she came out" or "having just come out." "Uscita" is the past participle of "uscire" (to exit/come out), functioning adjectivally.

• stiamo perdendo quota

  ➔ Present progressive tense ('stare' + gerund).

  ➔ "Stiamo perdendo" is the present progressive tense, formed by the present tense of "stare" (to be/stay) followed by the gerund of the main verb ("perdere" -> "perdendo"). It indicates an continuous action happening at the moment of speaking.

• Mi sono ficcato in un guaio

  ➔ Reflexive verb in the passato prossimo (compound past tense).

  ➔ "Mi sono ficcato" is the passato prossimo of the reflexive verb "ficcarsi" (to get oneself into, to stick oneself). It is formed with the auxiliary verb "essere" (sono) and the past participle "ficcato," agreeing in gender and number with the subject (implied "io").

• mi devo abituare

  ➔ Modal verb construction with a reflexive pronoun ('dovere' + infinitive).

  ➔ "Mi devo abituare" combines the modal verb "dovere" (must/have to) with the infinitive "abituare" (to get used to). The reflexive pronoun "mi" (myself) can either precede the modal verb or be attached to the infinitive ("devo abituarmi").