22/03/2017

Required insistently by his Marche friends to write words of solidarity for the earthquake victims in central Italy and words of hope for the rebirth of Marche, Umbria and Abruzzo, writer Raffaele Lauro published this morning on his website (www.raffaelelauro.it ) the lyrics of a ballad entitled “A Ballad of Mitì”, the music for which will be arranged by the Maestros from Macerata, Giuliano Cardella and Paolo Della Mora.  The ballad is freely inspired by a legend from the Adriatic coast, precisely from Ancona, a story of a beautiful village girl called Mitì, a daughter of a fisherman. Mitì, having dreamed about a man (the most handsome groom) of her life, a wonderful prince, who would come from the sea to marry her, refused all and many offers of marriage from the young men in the village, who were enchanted by her melodious voice:  by her song of love. Mitì stood all day, from sunrise to sunset, on a promontory overlooking the sea, singing and scanning the horizon, awaiting the arrival of the prince. The days passed, the years passed, Mitì was confident that the dreamed man would come, and ask for her hand. And she sang and continued to sing. A beautiful boy, the alleged prince, arrived at last on a boat and she exploded with joy, she welcomed him as his bride. In fact, the young man loved another girl, to whom he had been already engaged. Mitì, devastated by disappointment, launched herself from the mountain, into the waves of the sea, and was transformed into a mermaid, a mermaid who continues to sing her love song. Mitì becomes a siren-symbol of those who continue to dream of a great and impossible love. “I am very attached to these areas, Cingoli and Pratola Peligna, where I have dear friends and where, in Visso Ussita, I used to work in the summer while still at school at the hotel of the mayor of Visso at the time, Silvio Sensi, father of Franco Sensi, an extraordinary and beloved character, also by me. Every village of Marche, Umbria or Abruzzo with its churches, its ancestral palaces and with its unspoilt nature, represents an irreplaceable centre of ancient civilizations, noble traditions and refined culture. I hope these few words written from the heart and with feelings of gratitude can contribute to the spirit of rebirth of these wonderful lands.” 

A BALLAD OF MITÌ

by Raffaele Lauro
(Lyrics published on 22nd March 2017)

First verse and refrain

Nobody believed that you were born among fishing nets, in a hut by the sea, 
Mitì!
Everyone said You had landed on the sand in a silver basket,
Mitì! 
Your hair made of sun, your sky blue eyes, your moonlit skin,
Mitì!
You were the most beautiful, the sweetest, the most loved, 
only you, 
Mitì!
----
Second verse and refrain unchanged

One night you dreamt of the most handsome groom, who would come from the sea, for you,
Mitì!
You were emotional, and you began to sing a love song, from dawn to dusk,
Mitì!
Your hair made of sun, your sky blue eyes, your moonlit skin,
Mitì!
You were the most beautiful, the sweetest, the most loved,  
only you, 
Mitì!
----------

Third verse and refrain unchanged

Your enchanting voice came down from the mountain and softened the distant horizon,
Mitì!
Safely awaiting for days, for years, you sang your love song,
Mitì!
Your hair made of sun, your sky blue eyes, your moonlit skin,
Mitì!
You were the most beautiful, the sweetest, the most loved, 
only you, 
Mitì!
------

Fourth verse and refrain changed

In the most bitter day you found out, unhappy, that the most handsome groom had not come for you,
Mitì!
Lost and hurting, she hid between the waves, and she continued to sing a song, not of love anymore,
Mitì!
Your hair in blue, your skin covered with scales, your fairy eyes,
Mitì!
You are now the most beautiful mermaid, the sweetest siren, the most beloved siren,
You sing for those who expect the greatest love, 
You are now a siren, 
Mitì!

-----------
Closing, refrain changed
Your hair in blue, your skin covered with scales, your fairy eyes,
Mitì!
You are now the most beautiful mermaid, the sweetest siren, the most beloved siren,
You sing for those who expect the greatest love in vain, 
You are a siren, 
Mitì!

----------

Explanation of lyrics

The author of the lyrics wrote this ballad freely inspired by a legend from the Adriatic coast, precisely from Ancona, about a beautiful village girl called Mitì, a daughter of a fisherman. Mitì, having dreamed about a man (the most handsome groom) of her life, a wonderful prince, who would come from the sea to marry her, refused all and many offers of marriage from the young men in the village, who were enchanted by her melodious voice:  by her song of love. Mitì stood all day, from sunrise to sunset, on a promontory overlooking the sea, singing and scanning the horizon, awaiting the arrival of the great love. The days passed, the years passed, Mitì was confident that her prince would come, and ask for her hand. And she sang and continued to sing. A beautiful boy, the alleged prince, arrived at last on a boat and she exploded with joy, she welcomed him as his bride. In fact, the young man loved another girl, to whom he had been already engaged. Mitì, devastated by disappointment, launched herself from the mountain, between the waves of the sea, and was transformed into a mermaid. Her singing now is no longer a love song, but a song of pain. 
Mitì thus becomes a legend and, in the text of Lauro, a siren-symbol of those who dream of a great, however impossible love, and wait in vain.

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