CIRIBIRIBIN
(Music composed by Alberto Pestalozza - 1898)
There have been many different lyrics set to Pestalozza's music,
including those written by:
Carlos Tiochet (1899)
Henry S. Sawyer (1909)
E.W.M (1909)
V. Spadea (1909)
Tell Taylor (1909)
Howard Johnson (1932)
Jerry Castillo (1935)
Jack Lawrence (1939)
Alice Mattullath - 1945
Tuntematon (1948)
Rudolf Thaler
Edward Cole
Léo Lelievre & Henri Christiné
Recordings of these various versions, both vocal and instrumental,
have included:
Enrico Caruso - 1909
Prince's Orchestra - 1911
Guido Deiro - 1927
Grace Moore (feat. in the film "One Night Of Love") - 1934
Jan Garber - 1935
Erna Sack - 1938
Benny Goodman & His Orch. - 1938
Harry James & His Orch. (vocal: Frank Sinatra) - 1939
Bing Crosby & The Andrew Sisters - 1939
Glenn Miller & His Orch. (vocal: Ray Eberle) - 1939
Angelini & The Sua Orchestra - 1941
Betty Grable (feat. in the film "Springtime In The Rockies") - 1942
Ernst van't Hoff & His Tanzorchester - 1942
Trio Lescano - 1942
Henry Theel - 1948
Mario Lanza - 1951
Kurt Henkels & His Orch. - 1952
Katherine Grayson (feat. in the film "So This Is Love") - 1953
Erwin Lehn & His Orch. - 1954
Kay Armen with Vic Damone, Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Russ Tamblyn
& Tony Martin (feat. in the film "Hit The Deck") - 1955
Mitzi Kirchner - 1955
Renato Carosone - 1955
Pérez Prado - 1959
Jorgen Petersen - 1959
Kurt Edelhagen & His Orch. - 1959
Duke Ellington & His Orch. - 1962
Henry Mancini & His Orch. - 1971
Rosanna Fratello - 1974
Also recorded by:
Deanna Durbin; Jeanette MacDonald; Pearl Bailey; Al Hirt;
Glen Gray & His Casa Loma Orch.; Erwin Lehn; Lettie Keyes;
Eddie Dunstedter; Stan Brenders & His Orch.; George Lewis;
Heinz Kretzschmer & His Orch.; Helmut Lotti; Elyane Célis;
Lawrence Welk; Lucrezia Bori; Madeleine Lohse; Les Surfs;
John Williams; Raymond Scott; Carmen Cavallaro; Al Caiola;
Edith & Laurel Pardey; Gene Krupa & His Orch; Enoch Light;
......................................... and many others.
*****
LYRICS BY CARLOS TIOCHET
As recorded by: GRACE MOORE; LUCREZIA BORI; MARIO LANZA; and others:
Su finiscila coi baci
Bel moruccio biricchin
Ma non vedi tu la luna
Che dal ciel fa capolin?
Lascia pur la luna spii
Noi las ciamola spiar
Anzi, il pallido suo raggio
Ci consiglia a seguitar!
Ma poi chissà? Cosa dirà?
E via dirà quelche vorrà
A - ha, A - ha
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin che bel faccin
Che sguardo dolce assassin
Ciribiribin, che bel nassin
Che bel dentin, che bel bocchin!
Ciribiribin che bel faccin
Che squardo dolce assassin
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin che bel faccin
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
When the moon is brightly shining
On a lovely night like this
Ev'ry maiden's heart is pinning
For a sweetheart's tender kiss
'Tis the song of sweet romancing
Filling hearts with love's desire
'Tis a melody entrancing
Setting each maiden's heart a fire
Now from a far hear the quitar
Oh, hear it played sweet Serenade,
A - ha, A - ha
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin.
(Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin.)
Ciribiribin I love you and
Do cherish you with all my heart
Ciribiribin, I hope and pray
Each day that we will never part
Ciribiribin If you would only
Say your love will never die
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin,
(Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin)
Ciribiribin I love you so
******
LYRICS BY JACK LAWRENCE (1939)
As recorded by Harry James & Frank Sinatra;
Carmen Cavallaro; Glenn Miller; Al Hirt;
Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters; and others:
When the moon hangs low in Napoli
There's a handsome gondolier
Every night he sings so happily
So his lady love can hear
In a manner oh gravissimo
He repeats his serenade,
And his heart beats so fortissimo
When she raises her Venetian shade
Ciribiribin, chiribiribin, ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, he waits for her each night beneath her balcony
Ciribiribin, he begs to hold her tight, but no, she won't agree
Ciribiribin, she throws a rose and blows a kiss from up above
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love
(Orchestral Interlude)
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin, they're so in love
******
LYRICS BY HOWARD JOHNSON (1932)
As recorded by: HELMUT LOTTI
Every night your kisses tell me
Just how sweet the days has been
For your kisses taste like honey
Let me feel those lips again
Though the moon is shining brightly
Even brighter is your smile
Let me dream a little longer
Be my honey for a wile
The buzzing starts
In both our hearts
Those beating hearts
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, with hearts so free we'll sing and dance this melody
Ciribiribin, oh what romance with loving hearts in harmony
Ciribiribin, what extacy to sing through life so merely
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin means love to me
Ciribiribin, with hearts so free we'll sing and dance this melody
Ciribiribin, oh what romance with loving hearts in harmony
Ciribiribin, what extacy to sing through life so merrily
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin, ciribiribin means love to me
******
LYRICS BY JERRY CASTILLO (1935)
As recorded by JAN GARBER
When it's nighttime in gay Napoli
And a full moon starts to shine
Music is sweet in gay Napoli
Like a glass of sparkling wine
When it's nighttime in gay Napoli
I'm thrilled thruout my whole being
For I know somewhere in Napoli
I have my Ciribiribin.
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin.
Ciribiribin I hear your voice
Singing a song of sweet rejoice,
Ciribiribin, I feel your hand
Guiding my hand through lovers land.
Ciribiribin, I see your eyes
Gleam from the skies like stars above,
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin,
Ciribiribin my dream of love
******
LYRICS BY HENRY. S. SAWYER (1909)
As recorded by ENRICO CARUSO
Once upon a time I met a lass
Who was beautiful and fair
Her long tresses were luxuriant
And her step was light as air
But the charm which most did captivate
Was the charm of her blue eyes
When she smiled, she looked me thro' and thro'
And I vowed I would win that prize
"Tell me, fair maid," humbly I said
"Tell me thy name, just thy dear name"
"My name?" she replied, as her eyes opened wide
"Ciribiribib, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin!"
"Ciribiribin is what my Father named me many years ago
Ciribiribin is what my Mother calls me, and she ought to know
Ciribiribin's my name, I love to hear my sweethearts fondly say
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, be mine for aye!
Ciribiri - aye!"
One week passed by before I saw
My beloved maid again
Oh, the time had seemed a year instead
Nay, it seemed more like ten
But as I approached her home so dear
While the stars shone bright above
On the porch I saw another man
On his knees to my blue-eyed love
"Tell me I pray," I heard him say
"Tell me thy name, just thy dear name"
"My name?" she replied, as my form she espied
"Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin!"
"Ciribiribin is what my Father named me many years ago
Ciribiribin is what my Mother calls me, and she ought to know
Ciribiribin's my name, I love to hear my sweethearts fondly say
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, be mine for aye!
Ciribiri - aye!"
*****
LYRICS BY LÉO LELIEVRE & HENRI CHRISTINÉ
As recorded by ELYANE CÉLIS
Délaissant sa jeune femme
Qui pousse un profond soupir
Le mari vieux et sans flamme
Dans sa chambre va dormir
Alors se sentant renaître
Et bravant le Bartolo
Elle court à la fenêtre
Écouter son Roméo.
Dans son refrain le troubadour
Redit joyeux ce mot d'amour
Toujours
Toujours
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, vite ouvre-moi,
Je veux chanter auprès de toi
Ciribiribin, ce mot n'est rien
Cependant tu le comprends bien
Ciribiribin, je veux monter
Te prendre afin de me griser
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, un doux baiser
N'étant pas du tout rebelle
Pour mieux l'entendre chanter
Sa charmante ritournelle
Elle dit: tu peux monter
Puisque mon époux me sèvre
De ce refrain si charmant
Je l'apprendrai sur ta lèvre
En t'enlaçant tendrement
Bientôt après au troubadour
Elle disait ce mot d'amour
Toujours
Toujours
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, cet air me plaît
Reprenons le dernier couplet
Ciribiribin, mon mari dort
Mon chéri répétons encore
Ciribiribin, ô mon amant
Viens me refaire gentiment
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, un doux serment.
Tout à coup l'époux s'éveille
En entendant le duo
Sa fureur est sans pareille
Pourtant il ne souffle mot
Car il n'empêchera guère
Les deux amants de chanter
Et ne pouvant rien y faire
Il murmure dépité:
Entre les bras du troubadour
Elle a chanté ce mot d'amour
Toujours
Toujours
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, l'air menaçant
La lune me montre un croissant
Ciribiribin, quand il ne peut
Chanter ce refrain amoureux
Ciribiribin, le vieux mari
Par son épouse, est chaque nuit
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin
Ciribiribin, toujours puni
******
LYRICS BY EDWARD COLE
Long ago in sunny Napoli
In a little sunlit square
Quite by chance I heard a melody
At a little streetside fair.
Just a simple, carefree melody
Heard while strolling through the town,
Just a simple tune sung happily
By a quaint little streetside clown.
Ciribiribin, a melody
Your heart can toss up to the sky,
Ciribiribin, a song to sing
Whenever things have gone awry.
Ciribiribin, when you feel sad
Just hum it for a little while,
Ciribiribin, soon as you begin,
Ciribiribin, the world will smile
*****
AN ITALIAN VERSION:
Ciribiribin paghé 'na bira
Ciribiribin, paghè 'na bira,
Ciribiribin, no go moneda,
Ciribiribin, doman de sera,
Ciribiribin, la pagherò!
Sei bella, sei cara,
bella, non piangere!
bella, non piangere!
Sei bella, sei cara,
bella, non piangere
nè sospirar!
Ciribiribin, ghe vol persuto,
Ciribiribin, e mortadela,
Ciribiribin, la mula bela
Ciribiribin per far l'amor.
Sei bella, sei cara,
bella, non piangere!
bella, non piangere!
Sei bella, sei cara,
bella, non piangere
nè sospirar!
Ciribiribin
*****
UNKNOWN WRITER:
See the moonbeams kiss the flowers
Hear the breezes kiss the trees,
Night is here and night is ours
Filled with tender memories
See the fireflies in the gloaming
Lighting up our path of love
Hurry up and let's go roaming
Heaven's calling from above
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin,
ciribiribin, ciribiribin
O come, my love
while stars above so brightly shine
Ciribiribin, come let my arms
enfold your charms so pure, divine
Ciribiribin, we'll make each kiss
a tempting bliss as sweet as wine
Ciribiribin, ciribiribin,
Ciribiribin, sweet love of mine
*****
UNKNOWN WRITER:
I am waiting here for you love,
As the evening breezes blow,
Watching the shadows of the river,
As they flit both to and fro,
I have come to see the love light
Dancing in your eyes of blue,
And to hear you softly whisper that
To me You'll e'er be true,
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin,
Ciribiribin, the moon looks down
Upon our happiness serene,
Ciribiribin, the stars bow down
Before thee, o my radiant queen,
Ciribiribin, more love than mine
For thee the world has never seen.
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin,
Ciribiribin, my radiant queen
*****
DUET VERSION WITH LYRICS BY E.W.M (1909)
SHE:
Really you must stop your kissing
My little dark-eyed love
For the moon will not be missing
Who peers from the sky above
HE:
Come, now even if the moon sees
We will never mind her there
And her very smile seems all the while
Telling us we need not care
SHE:
But then, who knows what she will see
HE:
But then who knows what she will see
No matter to you and me
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin!
BOTH:
Ciribiribin, the lovely face
The witching eyes that slay my heart
Ciribiribin, the two red lips
For one sweet kiss when Lovers part
Ciribiribin, the lovely face
The witching eyes that slay my heart
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin
For one kiss when Lovers part
SHE:
And if dear Mama should listen
She would hear you kiss me, Dear
I surely know, she'll scold me so
And her anger I would fear
HE:
And if Mama dear is angry
We will tell her not to scold
She'll forgive when she remembers
Her own love days of old
SHE:
But then, who knows what she will see
HE:
But then who knows what she will see
No matter to you and me
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin!
BOTH:
Ciribiribin, the lovely face
The witching eyes that slay my heart
Ciribiribin, the two red lips
For one sweet kiss when Lovers part
Ciribiribin, the lovely face
The witching eyes that slay my heart
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin
For one kiss when Lovers part
*****
DUET VERSION WITH LYRICS BY GOZZOLA:
SHE:
Can't you stop that little kissing
My dark eyed little rogue?
Can't you see the Moon is peeping
Down on us like a watchdog?
HE:
Don't you care if he is spying
Don't you worry, let him spy
Nay, those silv'ry rays so charming
Say continue, don't be shy
SHE:
But if we play, what will he say?
He:
Well he can say whatever he may!
Will say, will say
Ciribiribin, Chiribiribin, Chiribirbin
Chiribiribin, your face serene
Yes, looks that conquer, handsome queen
Chiribiribin, such cheerful mien
Yes mouth and nose of a colleen
Ciribiribin, your eyes are nice
That with their gleam our hearts entice
Ciribiribin, Ciribiribin
Steal my heart away, Colleen
*****
(Songs researched by Mel Priddle & Ferda Dolunay, with contributions
from Shelley Botka, Graham Gibson, & Bill Huntley – March 2005)
**If you have any additions and/or corrections to make to the
above, please send them in to International Lyrics Playground
