I am the plague spreader 1
And when it gets dark
I pop out like a mushroom 2
I spread [my poison] wherever I go
I'm always wary in my erratic wanders
If you want to fuck me off you've got to yell "get the plague spreader!"
My "trip" 3 at the moment
It's a bloody unguent I spread
On concrete walls I want
To elevate as a symbol of stupidity
An intent I can easily take on
Cynical figure in the dark night
I get doors dirty, I bring death
I don't give a shit
If they get me, they'll beat the shit out of me
You're probably going to find me on Rotten
My heart beats more than a whore 4
When I bring chaos to the population
I take the most benefit from this
The neighbourhood freaks out, and the next could be anyone 5
[Chorus:]
Ashes, rust, virgin blood
Snake tongue, saliva and soot
Oooh, get the plague spreader!
Oooh, get the plague spreader!
Goat poop, peacock eye
Capa's 6 pee in my cauldron
Oooh, get the plague spreader!
Oooh, get the plague spreader!
In the morning, I rise and shine
And there's shit in those fools' mouths 7
They smell each other, they accuse, they take shelter
They're afraid of being taken away even when they're in church
Driven out and stoned, victims of unrighteous self-defence 8
Injured and harmed
The corpse carrier passes by and he load them up
On a chariot heading to the grave
But I won't, I'll block the crowd like a pivot
Even when they knock on my door
No, I'm not opening the door
Or I'll uncover my own role as the scapegoat
I'll turn myself in only if I'll ever run out of all the tricks
I invent in my funereal laboratory
If you want to murder me, my dear, you'll need trusted hitmen
Shady fellows, daredevils just like me
If they're so rare, get out of here
Lock yourself home: the plague spreader is back in town
[Chorus]
I'm the plague, infecting all those motherfuckers
The "filthy bubo of a purple bruise" 9 that makes people uncomfortable
If you've listened to me, you're already infected, you poor bastard
They've got you and took you to a lazaret
I'll get back to bed satisfied
I'm abiding the pact I made with the Damned One
I'm the perfect outcast, that's why I'm anticipating
A pole in my chest
I vanish, I'm having such a fun
[Chorus]
1. the song is inspired to the "untore" character, especially as it is described in the XIX century novel "The Betrothed", by Alessandro Manzoni, still studied in high schools as part of the program of Italian literature. During the outbreaks of bubonic plague of XVII and XVIII centuries, a mass hysteria spread out in many cities, as people thought that the disease was carried by these "untori", men and women who had a pact with Satan, and who would infect the streets with poisonous unguents and oils. The author in this song compares himself to an "untore", as he would bring chaos with his controversial lyrics (as he often talks about Italian politic or questionable way of life).2. "to pop out like a mushroom" is an idiomatic sentence quite used in Italian. I don't know if it makes any sense in English. Anyway, it just means "to pop out of nowhere".3. meaning more something like "drug" here.4. "battere" means "to beat", but it is also used to refer to a prostitute waiting for 'customers' on the streets.5. a pun on "prossimo", which both means "neighbour" (in the Evangelical sense) and "the next one".6. short for "Caparezza", the author's pseudonym.7. a pun on the Italian proverb "il mattino ha l'oro in bocca" (lit. "the morning has gold in its mouth"), meaning that if you get up early, you can do anything better, rather than when you get up late.8. a reference to the political debate, still in the news today in Italy, over the righteousness of armed self-defence, typically against housebreakers.9. a quote from the book I mentioned before, "The Betrothed", by Alessandro Manzoni.