Bartali [English translation]

As much as a bunch of flowers can be desirable

and the rustle of the paper wrapping too,

a beer is way more tempting

in this day of sticky natural rubber.

I am sitting on a bollard

minding my own business.

Between a motorcycle1 and the next there's a silence

I can't describe.

Oh, how far I got in my sandals

how far did Bartali2 get?

That nose, as sad as a steep slope,

those happy eyes of an Italian on a day trip.

And the French respect us,

and they are still pretty pissed about it

and you tell me: we have to go to the cinema.

Well, you go to the cinema, off you go.

A whole bunch of things

makes me stay here.

Yes, women are surly sometimes

or maybe they just need to pee.

And this day fades in orange

and fills with indistinct memories.

I like to stay here along this county road,

covered in dust, if you want to go, go.

Go, while I stay here waiting for Bartali,

pacing up and down in my sandals.

It will come round the bend

that sad nose of a happy Italian.

Between pissed Frenchmen

and fluttering newspapers

there's some wind, the countryside is barking,

there's a moon deep down in the blue.

Between pissed Frenchmen

and fluttering newspapers

and you tell me: we have to go to the cinema.

Well, you go to the cinema, off you go.

1. He's a spectator at a road race. A number of motorcycles (police escort, journalists, logistics team) usually precede the cyclists 2. Italian road bike champion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gino_Bartali