Derek Piotr
Fieldwork Archive

2085

Alziti Bella (Wake Up Beautiful Woman)


Performed by Alessandra Belloni.
Recorded August 22, 2026 in Edgewater, New Jersey.
Telephone recording. Learned as a youth in Rome, Italy.
First performed with Alessandra's group I Giullari Di Piazza,
performed at NYU Italian Department 1980 with guitarist John La Barbera.


Alziti bella, si te si curcata
Alla finestra mettiti a sedere
Ascorta chi te fa 'sta serenata
È un giovinotto che te vole bene

Oi dormi, dormi 'n mezzo all'incanto
Angelo santo, io moro pe' te
Sento 'na smania di averti accanto
Angelo santo, io moro pe' te

Oi nenna ne, oi nenna ne
Oi bella, bella, bella, io moro pe' te

Si nun te svegli tu, viso mio adorno
L'aria apparisce, sì, ma nun fa giorno
S'hanno svegliati li vicini intorno
Lo troppo di dormì te porta danno

Oi dormi, dormi, fiore de primmavera
Donna sincera, nun pensi all'amor
Nun pensi all'amore, all'amor che ti ama tanto
Angelo santo, io moro pe' te

Oi nenna ne, oi nenna ne
Oi bella, bella, bella, io moro pe' te
Oi nenna ne, oi nenna ne
Oi bella, bella, bella, io moro pe' te
Rise up, my beauty, if you have gone to bed
Come and sit by the window
Listen to the one singing this serenade
It is a young man who loves you dearly

Oh, sleep on, sleep on, amidst the enchantment
Holy angel, I am dying for you
I feel a longing to have you by my side
Holy angel, I am dying for you

Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, beauty, beauty, beauty, I am dying for you

If you do not wake, my lovely one
The air may stir, yes, but the day does not break
The neighbors all around have already woken
Sleeping too long does you no good

Oh, sleep on, sleep on, flower of springtime
Sincere woman, you do not think of love
You do not think of love, the love that loves you so
Holy angel, I am dying for you

Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, beauty, beauty, beauty, I am dying for you
Oh, my darling, oh, my darling
Oh, beauty, beauty, beauty, I am dying for you



Tags

New Jersey, telephone recording, United States