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The fact
The first song in Paràulas Cantadas: a poem of mine, set to music. It belongs to no village, because its subject belongs to the whole island: separation. The children who left and come back only in August, the parents who stay. The return of summer, and what it costs those who wait all year.
The lyrics
Sardinian
Cando làmpadas mi giamat
lasso sa tzitade
su coro andat a bellu
inue m'isetat su sole
Sa torrada de s'istiu
(sa torrada!)
sas campanas de mesudie
sa pratza, sas risadas
sos cumpanzos totu a inghìriu
Sa torrada de s'istiu
su fragu de murta e de mare
totu sas jannas abertas
comente bratzos pro m'imprassare
Sa domo de jaja
tenet sa matessi janna
sa figu, sa matessi umbra
ma su tempus est passadu
Chie est partidu, chie abarradu
si mirant chene faeddare
una tassa de binu artziada:
"A custa terra, chi non si podet ismentigare!"
Sa torrada de s'istiu
(sa torrada!)
sas campanas de mesudie
sa pratza, sas risadas
sos cumpanzos totu a inghìriu
Sa torrada de s'istiu
su fragu de murta e de mare
totu sas jannas abertas
comente bratzos pro m'imprassare
E cando benit cabudanni
sa balìgia pranghet a palas de sa janna
mi giro e promito un'àtera borta:
"Torro, mama... torro un'àtera borta"
Sa torrada de s'istiu
(sa torrada!)
sas campanas de mesudie
sa pratza, sas risadas
sos cumpanzos totu a inghìriu
Sa torrada de s'istiu...
bidda mia, iseta·mi un'àtera borta...
English translation
When June calls me
I leave the city
my heart drifts away slowly
to where the sun awaits me
The return of summer
(the return!)
the midday bells
the square, the laughter
friends all around
The return of summer
the scent of myrtle and sea
all the doors wide open
like arms reaching out to embrace me
Grandma's house
still has the same door
the fig tree, the same shade
but time has gone by
Those who left, those who stayed
look at each other without a word
a glass of wine raised:
"To this land that can never be forgotten!"
The return of summer
(the return!)
the midday bells
the square, the laughter
friends all around
The return of summer
the scent of myrtle and sea
all the doors wide open
like arms reaching out to embrace me
And when September comes
the suitcase weeps behind the door
I turn around and promise once more:
"I'll come back, mama... I'll come back once more"
The return of summer
(the return!)
the midday bells
the square, the laughter
friends all around
The return of summer...
my village, wait for me once more...
The reviews
The lyrics have not yet been reviewed by a native speaker. I say so because it is true, and because the other pieces were. I am looking for readers in the circoli sardi — Germany, France, Belgium: write to me. This piece is also not in the series' afro house palette, and that is a choice.
Sources
- Dati AIRE, febbraio 2026, ripresi da «La Nuova Sardegna» (22/02/2026)
- A.S.E.I.