Natale di seconda mano [English translation]

Today it’s time for fires, we stage crèches;

from starry skies descending, you can hear and see us.1

Half-asleep on the bench2, or busy doing nothing;

and the cold coming, burning us and putting us out.

There is no mystery, no news.

There is no mystery, no nativity.

I give you a leaf to chew with bread, as a gift;

and you, an envelope of wine to get through hunger.

Mr. captain, help us cross

this sea against the flow.

Mr. captain, we are not coming from left or right,

and tonight we don’t have,

we don’t have government or parliament,

and sense, we don’t know about sense and sensibility,

and when we have to, we make do.

And we make do

with second-hand papers.

With second-hand papers.

Today it’s a time for waiting, let’s arrange something,

while the life in rose is dancing on the sidewalk,3

and it looks at us and smiles and it never touches us.

Last ones in the whole world, little match people,4

there is no forgiveness in all of this compassion,

there is no warmth, no electricity.

And today the dogs talk to feel better about themselves,

they sing songs around our fire.

Mr. captain, help us cross

this sea against the flow.

Mr. captain, we are not coming from left or right,

and tonight we don’t have,

we don’t have government or parliament,

and sense, we don’t know about sense and sensibility,

and when we have to, we make do.

And we make do

with second-hand papers.

With second-hand papers.

1. Tu scendi dalle stelle {you descend from stars} is an Italian Christmas carol.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_scendi_dalle_stelle2. Meaning the bench of a football team, not a bench where homeless people sleep.3. Reference to Édith Piaf’s songLa vie en rose {life in pink}, which offers an optimistic and carefree view of life.4. Reference to the fable The Little Match Girl, in which the main character dies from cold on New Year’s Day, for she has gone out to beg people to buy her matches.