Arrese means "surrenders" or "giving in." It's an interesting word because it can carry a sense of defeat or resignation, but in the context of the song, it's presented as a part of life's tapestry.
The lyrics mention "Di colpi bassi e di arrese" (Of low blows and surrenders) and later "Di vincitore e di arrese" (Of winner and surrenders), suggesting that giving in is a natural, perhaps even necessary, part of the human experience, alongside victories and struggles. It's a less common word in everyday conversation, making it stand out.
This song by Italian artist Marco Mengoni feels like a list of all the little, contradictory things that make up a life. He sings that we live on "parole e silenzi" (words and silences), "grandi passi e piccole cose" (big steps and small things), and even "serie cult americane" (American cult TV shows). It's a mix of the beautiful, the boring, the happy, and the sad, from stolen kisses on a cheap sofa to broken promises behind closed doors.
But then, something interrupts this everyday routine. A dream comes to wake him up: "Un sogno così vivido" (Such a vivid dream). In this dream, he sees a version of himself, a "sosia di me stesso" (a double of myself), who is both a "prigioniero libero" (a free prisoner). It's this powerful, strange vision of himself that seems to be a wake-up call, a sudden moment of realization right in the middle of an ordinary life. He tries to react, but feels powerless: "Grido, ma la mia voce non esiste" (I scream, but my voice doesn't exist).
Marco Mengoni is an Italian singer-songwriter born on December 25, 1988, in Ronciglione, Italy. He rose to fame in 2009 after winning the third season of "X Factor Italy," and became one of Italy's most celebrated pop and soul artists in the years that followed.
Mengoni has won the Sanremo Music Festival twice, in 2013 with "L'Essenziale" and again in 2023 with "Due Vite," which also represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest. Known for his powerful, soulful voice and emotionally direct lyrics, he has released multiple platinum-certified albums and remains one of the most streamed Italian artists both at home and internationally.