Siamo chi siamo [English translation]

I know a girl from Torino

who has a half-empty eye and a full eye*

she always talks about going away

without any place to go to

it’s just about getting on the first flight available

we are who we are

we got here bare as we were

we parked far away

there’s a song playing in the distance

half way of our life’s way**

I realized I did not understand

but then there was a distraction

or maybe it was a sunstroke

that taught me there’s nothing to understand

from among all those roads

we just chose one

at all those crossroads

not a single sign

from among all those roads

we end up taking one

somebody must have dropped us there

we are who we are

one day there was a double rainbow

one day they breastfed us

one day they spilled wine on us

we are who we are

we got here as bare as we were

we parked far away

don’t call me, I’ll call you

I know a girl from Salerno

who never lowered her gaze

she doesn’t know what peace is

she can’t sleep if the light’s not on

one more sign of the cross (prayer)

of all those roads

get to know one at least

nobody has walked it yet

nobody will

at all those crossroads

make head or tails

somebody must have dropped us there

we are who we are

an apple’s worth for Adam

the time for an umpteenth breath

and antibodies produced by poison

we are who we are

the fog may be rising up from the bare hills***

you can't step twice in the same river****

you never stop feeling hungry

I know the reality reflected by the mirror

and I know you can’t run away from that

every day it becomes more obvious to me

that those wrinkles are simply

the opportunities I never took a shot at

we are who we are

we got here as bare as we were

a song is playing in the distance

Could you just be a bit gentler?