Ma se ghe penso lyrics with English translation

O l'ëa partîo sensa 'na palanca,

Oh, the sea has departed without a warning,

l'ëa zà trent'anni, forse anche ciû.

it's already been thirty years, perhaps even more.

Ô l'aiva lottòu pe mette i dinæ a-a banca

He struggled hard to put some coins in the bank

e poèisene ancon ûn giorno turnâ in zû

and maybe one day return to the shore

e fâse a palassinn-a e o giardinetto,

and make a little palace and a garden,

co-o rampicante, co-a cantinn-a e o vin,

with climbing vines, a cellar, and some wine,

a branda attaccâa a-i ærboi, a ûso letto,

a bed attached to the trees, a cozy spot,

pe dâghe 'na schenâa seja e mattin.

to enjoy a quiet evening and morning light.

Ma o figgio ô ghe dixeiva: "No ghe pensâ

But the son would say: "Why think back,

a Zena cöse ti ghe vêu tornâ?!"

what do you want to return to in Genoa?!"

Ma se ghe penso allôa mi veddo o mâ,

But when I think of it, I see the sea,

veddo i mæ monti e a ciassa da Nûnsiâ,

I see my mountains and Nûnsiâ's square,

riveddo o Righi e me s'astrenze o chêu,

I see Righi again, and the sky opens,

veddo a lanterna, a cava, lazû o mêu...

I see the lantern, the cave, my light...

Riveddo a-a seja Zena inlûminâa,

I see the seat of Genoa illuminated,

veddo là a Fôxe e sento franze o mâ

I see there in Foce and hear the sea's breeze

e allôa mi penso ancon de ritornâ

and then I think again of returning

a pösâ e össe dove'hò mæ madonnâa.

to rest and breathe where my dear mother is.

O l'ëa passòu do tempo, forse tróppo,

Oh, the time has passed, perhaps too much,

o figgio o l'inscisteiva: "Stemmo ben,

or the son insisted: 'Let's be well,'

dove ti vêu anâ, papà?. pensiemmo dóppo;

where do I want to go, dad? We thought later;

o viaggio, o mâ, t'é vëgio, no conven!"

oh journey, oh sea, I see you, it doesn't suit!

"Oh no, oh no! mi me sento ancon in gamba,

Oh no, oh no! I still feel strong,

son stanco e no ne pòsso pròppio ciû,

I'm tired and I really can't take it anymore,

son stûffo de sentî: señor, caramba,

I'm fed up of hearing: sir, caramba,

mi vêuggio ritornâmene ancon in zû...

I want to go back again in joy...

Ti t'é nasciûo e t'hæ parlòu spagnòllo,

You were born and you spoke Spanish,

mi son nasciûo zeneise e... no ghe mòllo!"

I was born Genoese and... I won't let go!

Ma se ghe penso allôa mi veddo o mâ,

But when I think about it I see the sea,

veddo i mæ monti e a ciassa da Nûnsiâ,

I see my mountains and the square of Núvia,

riveddo o Righi e me s'astrenze o chêu,

I see Righi again and I'm forced to choose,

veddo a lanterna, a cava, lazû o mêu...

I see the lantern, the cave, my lazy...

Riveddo a-a seja Zena inlûminâa,

I see the sea of Genoa illuminated,

veddo là a Fôxe e sento franze o mâ

I see there at Foce and feel the breeze of the sea,

e allôa mi penso ancon de ritornâ

and then I think again about returning

a pösâ e osse dove'hò mæ madonnâa.

to rest in the place where I have my Madonna.

E sensa tante cöse o l'è partîo

And without many things, it has left,

e a Zena o g'ha formòu torna o sêu nîo

and in Genoa it has formed again its nest.