Il villaggio sul fiume [English translation]

[preceded by an Oriental chant]

One night—I dreamed—of a village by the river.

A gate of branches braided from liana vines—

and a sweet girl with a sad smile

there by a bare tree—waiting for love—

it was you.

Oh ayo! Oh ayo! Good morning Kikò!

I will speak, I will speak, to your father—

to see, to see, if he will sell you, yes, sell you—

as a bride to me—to me.

You came to the gate, so candid and sweet—

and the surrounding branches suddenly bloomed

when you touched them with you silky hair.

At least, so goes the story passed down to Kikò.

Oh ayo! Oh ayo! Good morning Kikò!

I will speak, I will speak, to your father—

to see, to see, if he will sell you, yes, sell you—

as a bride to me—to me.

[followed by an Oriental chant]