Lampare are the bright lamps used on fishing boats at night to attract fish to the surface. It’s a beautifully specific word that paints a vivid picture of the Italian coast.
In the song, the protagonist sees lights on the dark sea and dreams of America, only to realize, "ma erano solo le lampare" (but they were only the fishing lamps). This single word captures the heart of the song: a poignant contrast between a faraway dream and the simple, beautiful reality of his home in Italy.
This song tells a story set on an old terrace overlooking the Gulf of Sorrento in Italy, where "il mare luccica" [the sea shines]. An emotional scene unfolds: a man holds a girl who has been crying, and then he starts to sing. The chorus is one of the most passionate declarations of love you'll ever hear: "Te voglio bene assaie / Ma tanto tanto bene sai" [I love you so much / So, so much, you know]. He says this love is like a chain that "scioglie il sangue dint'e vene" [melts the blood in the veins]. It's intense!
The man seems to be looking back on his life. He sees lights on the water and thinks of his nights in America, but then realizes his life is more like "la scia di un'elica" [the wake of a propeller], something that quickly disappears behind you. He feels pain in the music he's playing and thinks even death could be sweet. But when he looks into the girl's eyes, which are "verdi come il mare" [green like the sea], that real connection makes him forget all his lines and confused thoughts. He realizes that in the face of such a true moment, everything else, even his past in America, becomes small. He accepts that his life is ending, but feels happy and starts to sing his song of love again.
Lucio Dalla (1943-2012) was a celebrated Italian singer-songwriter and musician from Bologna, renowned for blending jazz, blues, opera, and pop into his unique sound. A gifted clarinetist and keyboardist, he rose to fame with iconic songs like Caruso (1986), a heartfelt tribute to opera tenor Enrico Caruso, and L'anno che verrà (1979).
Starting his career in local jazz bands, Dalla evolved into a masterful solo artist whose poetic lyrics and experimental style earned critical acclaim across Italy and beyond. His collaborations with poet Roberto Roversi marked a bold period of creativity, while later works explored folk and classical influences. Dalla's timeless music continues to inspire, making him one of Italy's most beloved cultural figures.