Canottiera literally translates to "tank top" or "undershirt". It's an everyday item of clothing, but its appearance in this song is quite striking and poetic.
The artist uses it as a symbol of the person he's searching for, hanging it out like a flag or a prayer. This transforms a simple garment into a powerful emblem of hope and longing, making it a memorable and unique word choice in the context of the lyrics.
In "Luna Crescente," the singer embarks on a vast and desperate search for someone. He asks everyone and everything for news of this person, from the mountains and fog to the burnt forests and fallen rocks. The world he describes is often damaged and suffering, reflecting his own sense of loss. This search isn't just about finding them; it's a deep, emotional plea for connection, symbolized by hanging their tank top outside "like a flag" or "like a prayer," hoping for a sign that they are still alive.
The song's core message is revealed in the chorus: the singer doesn't have anything specific to say, he just wants to know "that we are still alive / At the same time." It's a powerful need to confirm a shared existence, even across a great distance. He notes that where he is, the moon is waning (luna calante), a symbol of ending or decline. But he ends the song by repeatedly wondering if, wherever the other person is, the moon might be waxing (luna crescente), holding onto the hope that their life is just beginning a new, brighter phase.