This is my favorite Italian song when played at weddings and parties. A lively and fun song having many different lyrics, but the concept is the same: “Lazy Mary must get married”. This is the version I am more familiar with; although, there are many others.
When the music was played at weddings, everyone would form a circle and dance moving in a circle-like fashion and at times they would close the circle and yell “hey”; moving back and going round and round again. This dance was repeated during the entire song with outbreaks of fun and laughter. I included this chapter, not that it was a great part of our life, but it was truly part of our culture and knowing there are songs, experiences, smells, movies, traditions, sights, and so much more that make us who we are.
I included it just to give a sense of the culture we came from.
Luna Mezz’ ‘o Mare (Version by Dean Martin-click title to listen).
Title: There’s the Moon In the Middle of the Sea
Enjoy listening to the music as you read the lyrics. (It was made popular again in the film, “The Godfather”.)
Lazy Mary (Luna Mezz O Mare)
by Paolo Citorello, English lyrics by Lou Monte
(proper spelling followed by phonetic pronunciation)
C’e ‘na luna mezz’u mare
CHEH-nah LOO-nah MEN-zoo MAH-reh
Mamma mia m’a maritare
MAH-mah MEE-ah mah mah-ree-DAH-ray
Figlia mia a cu te dare
FIH-lee-ah MEE-ah GOO-deh DAH-ray
Mamma mia pensace tu
MAH-mah MEE-ah ben-ZATCH-eh-doo
Se te piglio lu pesciaiole
zeh teh BILL-yoo-oh bee-shigh-YOH-lah
Isse vai isse vene
IH-soo VAH-eh IH-soo VEH-neh
Sempe lu pesce mane tene
ZEHM-peh loh BAY-sheh MAH-neh DAY-neh
Se ce ‘ncappa la fantasia
zay ching-GAHP-pah-lah vahn-dah-ZEE-ah
Te pesculia figghiuzza mia
day beh-shoo-LEE-ah vee-GYOOTS-zah meeah
La lariula pesce fritt’e baccala
lah lah-REE-oo-lah BEH-sheh VREET-teh bah-kah-LAH
Uei cumpa no calamare c’eggi’accatta
way goom-BAH noh gah-lah-MAH-leh jeh-jah-kah-TAH
(Second stanza)
C’e ‘na luna mezz’u mare
CHEH-neh LOO-neh MEN-zoo MAH-reh
Mamma mia m’a maritare
MAH-mah MEE-ah mah mah-ree-DAH-ray
Figlia mia a cu te dare
FIH-lee-ah MEE-ah GOO-dah-DAH-ray
Mamma mia pensace tu
MAH-mah MEE-ah ben-ZATCH-eh-doo
Se te piglio lu pulezia
zeh-teh BILL-yoo-oh boo-luht-ZEE-ah
Isse vai isse vene
IH-soo VAH-eh IH-soo VEH-neh
Semp’a scuppetta mane tene
ZEHM-peh shkoop-PEHT-tah MAH-neh DAY-neh
Se ce ‘ncappa la fantasia
zee ching-GAHP-pah-lah vahn-dah-ZEE-ah
Te scuppettea figghiuzza mia
day shkoop-peh-TEE-ah vee-GYOOTS-zah meeah
La lariula pesce fritt’e baccala
lah lah-REE-oo-lah BEH-sheh VREET-teh bah-kah-LAH
Uei cumpa ‘na scuppetta c’eggi’accatta
way goom-BAH nah shkoo-PEHT-tah jeh-jah-kah-TAH
This is the English translation:
Lazy Mary you better get up
She answered back I am not able
Lazy Mary you better get up
We need the sheets for the table
Lazy Mary you smoke in bed
There’s only one man you should marry
My advice to you would be
Is to pay attention to me
You’d better marry a fireman
He’ll come and go, go and come
Sempe la pompa mane tene
ZEHM-beh lah BUHM-bah MAH-neh DAY-neh
Se ce ‘ncappa la fantasia
zay ching-GAH-pah-lah vahn-dah-ZEE-ah
Te pomperia figghiuzza mia
deh bohm-BEH-ree-ah vee-GYOOTS-zah meeah
La lariula pesce fritt’e baccala
lah lah-REE-oo-lah BEH-sheh VREET-teh bah-kah-LAH
Uei cumpa ‘na pompina c’eggi’accatta
way goom-BAH nah bohm-BEE-nah jeh-jah-kah-TAH
0 cumma ca me voglio marita
oh goom-MAH gah meh VOHL-yee-oh mah-ree-DAH
Trovame ‘na uagliotta
troh-VAH-meh nah while-YOHT-tah
Ca me voglio marita
gah meh VOHL-yee-oh mah-ree-DAH
Trovame ‘na uagliotta
troh-VAH-meh nah while-YOHT-tah
Ca me voglio marita
gah meh VOHL-yee-oh mah-ree-DAH
Trovame ‘na uagliotta
troh-VAH-meh nah while-YOHT-tah
Ca me voglio marita
gah meh VOHL-yee-oh mah-ree-DAH
This was played at Gina and Bruce’s wedding!
(The sound track is very low and you may not be able to hear it)
Hey!
Enjoy and find a version that you enjoy!