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: Also, in the portion of the song that is sung in English and Italian combined, he sings "You should marry a fireman...sempre un pompa a mano tiene (this means "he will always have a pump in hand"): : : My parents specak in Sicilian dialect and this song is sung in Neopolitan dialect but they are pretty similar so this is what I came up with after listening to the Lou Monte version of the song: : : There's a moon in the middle of the sea : : Oh mamma I want to marry : : My dear daughter who will we give you? : : Mother dear it's up to you : : If you take a fisherman : : He will come and he will go : : He will always have a fish in hand : : But if this is what you wish : : We will fish him up for you : : La la la, fried fish and salted cod : : Oh hey my friend we already have a squid! : : There's a moon in the middle of the sea : : Oh mamma I want to marry : : My dear daughter who will we give you? : : Mother dear it's up to you : : If you take a janitor : : He will come and he will go : : He will always have a broom in hand : : But if this is what you wish : : We will sweep him up for you : : La la la, fried fish and salted cod : : Oh hey my friend, we already have a broom : : Oh my friend, I want to marry now : : Let's look for a ***vagliotta*** 'cause I want to marry now.! Hey! : : (((*** I don't know what "vagliotta" is...anyone have any ideas??)) : : : : : The song appears to be in dialect, from Naples..., I think the translation could be: : : : "There's a moon in the middle of the sea / Oh Mother! We have to get married..." : : : "Mammami" sounds the contraction of "Mammamia" [My mother] which is used either literally or, more often, as an interjection. "Mammamia" is often used as an interjection, expressing particularly astonishment or intense wonder. : : : In many songs from Naples, understandably, the sea ("mare") is a recurring element ["Guarda 'o mare quant'è bello / 'spira tanto sentimento..."] : : : Songs from Naples are amongst the best known Italian songs abroad. They are a genre in itself. They are often romantic, nostalgic, sometimes somewhat lyrical. They don't represent modern Italian music, they are still very popular, particularly in Naples, where some local song-writers still write songs in that style. They are very often in dialect, not always understandable for those who have no familiarity with it. : : : I have not got time right now to translate it all, unfortunately. : : : I might check it one of these days... : : : Matt : : : : : : : : : Who knows the real translation of this song (and it's not "Lazy Mary you better get up...) The Italian begins: : : : : "C'e na luna mezza'o mare/ Mammami am'ho maritari........" : : : : Rest can be found at http://summer.com.br/~philho/html/lyrics/l/lazy_mary.txt : : : : I think two lines are missing after "Go and come sempr's la pompa a mano tiene" : : : : My parents sang it when we were young but would never tell us what the words meant. They're naughty at best. Thanks for any help.