Santa Lucia (song)

Traditional Neapolitan song For other songs with similar names, see Santa Lucia (disambiguation). "Santa Lucia"SongLanguageNeapolitanItalianSongwriterUnknownLyricistTeodoro Cottrau (Italian) "Santa Lucia" (Italian: [ˈsanta luˈtʃiːa], Neapolitan: [ˈsandə luˈtʃiːə]) is a traditional Neapolitan song. It was translated by Teodoro Cottrau (1827–1879) from Neapolitan into Italian and published by the Cottrau firm, as a barcarola, in Naples in 1849, during the first stage of the Italian unification. Significantly, it is the first Neapolitan song to be translated to Italian lyrics. Its transcriber, who is often miscredited as its composer, was the son of the French-born Italian composer and collector of songs Guillaume Louis Cottrau (1797–1847). Various sources credit A. Longo with the music, 1835.[citation needed] The original lyrics of "Santa Lucia" celebrate the picturesque waterfront district Borgo Santa Lucia in the Gulf of Naples, with an invitation (sales pitch) from a boatman to take a ride in his boat to better enjoy the cool evening.

[edit] This section is a candidate for copying over to Wikisource.If the section can be edited into encyclopedic content, rather than merely a copy of the source text, please do so and remove this message. Otherwise, you can help by formatting it per the Wikisource guidelines in preparation for the duplication. Neapolitan lyrics[edit]

Comme se frícceca la luna chiena! lo mare ride, ll'aria è serena...

Vuje che facite 'mmiezo a la via? Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! (Repeated twice)

Stu viento frisco fa risciatare: chi vo' spassarse jenno pe mmare?

È pronta e lesta la varca mia Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! (Repeated twice)

La tènna è posta pe' fa' 'na cena; e quanno stace la panza chiena

non c'è la mínema melanconia. Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia! (Repeated twice)

The following two lines were included in the Neapolitan version as transcribed in the "Italia Mia" website.

Pozzo accostare la varca mia Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Italian lyrics[edit]

Italian

English

Sul mare luccica l’astro d’argento. Placida è l’onda, prospero è il vento. Sul mare luccica l’astro d’argento. Placida è l’onda, prospero è il vento. Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Venite all’agile barchetta mia, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

Con questo zeffiro, così soave, Oh, com’è bello star sulla nave! Con questo zeffiro, così soave, Oh, com’è bello star sulla nave! Su passeggeri, venite via! Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Su passeggeri, venite via! Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

In fra le tende, bandir la cena In una sera così serena, In fra le tende, bandir la cena In una sera così serena, Chi non dimanda, chi non desia? Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! Chi non dimanda, chi non desia? Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

Mare sì placida, vento sì caro, Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro, Mare sì placido, vento sì caro, Scordar fa i triboli al marinaro, E va gridando con allegria, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia! E va gridando con allegria, Santa Lucia! Santa Lucia!

[edit] Perhaps the definitive 20th century recording[according to whom?] of the song was that of Enrico Caruso, the great Neapolitan opera singer. Mario Lanza recorded this song in this album "Mario Lanza sings Caruso favorites", RCA Victor LSC-2393. In the United States, an early edition of the song, with an English translation by Thomas Oliphant, was published by M. McCaffrey, Baltimore. In Sweden, Finland, Denmark, the Faroe Islands, and Norway, "Santa Lucia" has been given various lyrics to accommodate it to the winter-light Saint Lucy's Day, at the darkest time of the year. The three most famous lyrics versions in Swedish are Luciasången, also known by its incipit, Sankta Lucia, ljusklara hägring ("Saint Lucy, bright illusion"); Natten går tunga fjät ("The night walks with heavy steps"); and the 1970s "kindergarten" version, Ute är mörkt och kallt ("Outside it’s dark and cold"). The more common Norwegian version is Svart senker natten seg ("Black the night descends"), whereas the version commonly used in Denmark is titled Nu bæres lyset frem ("Now light is carried forth"). There also exists a Sámi version, Guhkkin Sicilias dolin lei nieida ("In faraway Sicily, long ago was a girl"). In the Czech Republic (or former Czechoslovakia), it was made famous with the words Krásná je Neapol ("Naples is beautiful") sung by Waldemar Matuška. In Austria, it is famous under the title "Wenn sich der Abend mild". It is sung by Austrian fraternities. In Thailand, Silpakorn Niyom (Thai: ศิลปากรนิยม), the anthem of Silpakorn University, borrowed the turn of Santa Lucia; the founder of the university, Silpa Bhirasri, was Italian. A Thai translation of Santa Lucia (itself was adapted from Italian version) was composed in 2017 by Professor Chedha Tingsanchali [th] of the university's faculty of Archaeology to mark Bhirasri's 125th birthday anniversary. The translated lyrics was first premiered on 15 September of that year.

[edit] Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album 101 Gang Songs (1961). The Ray Charles Singers recorded a version for their album Rome Revisited (1962). Jim Nabors and the Mayberry Choir sang Oliphant's English translation of Santa Lucia on The Andy Griffith Show in the episode "The Song Festers" (Season 4, Episode 20) which aired on February 24, 1964. Elvis Presley recorded the song on the 1965 album Elvis for Everyone! It was featured in his film Viva Las Vegas. Monsieur Tranquille made a disco version for his 1977 debut album Monsieur Tranquille – Faut pas m'chercher Tolmachevy Sisters performed it as the closing track to their 2007 debut album Polovinki and on the VGTRK TV series Subbotniy Vecher in 2006. Italian tenor Sergio Franchi (1926–1990) recorded this song in 1963 on his RCA Victor Red Seal album Our Man From Italy. Hayley Westenra included the song in her album Treasure. Italian-American crooner Jerry Vale recorded a popular version of the song. Mustafa Sağyaşar [tr] recorded a version in Turkish in 1998 with his son Cemil.

Although the melody was born on a 19th‑century gondola ride in Naples, "Santa Lucia" has slipped into the December calendar thanks to its association with Saint Lucy’s Day on 13 December. In many northern European churches the hymn is sung at candlelit vigils, its gentle barcarolle rhythm evoking the soft glow of lanterns that once guided boatmen through the Gulf of Naples. The song’s soothing tempo makes it an ideal backdrop for winter gatherings, especially when paired with a glass of mulled wine or a festive dessert. Its lyrical invitation to “take a ride” translates into a metaphorical journey into the calm of the holiday season, offering a quiet contrast to the louder Christmas carols.

When adding "Santa Lucia" to a Christmas mix, look beyond the most‑played operatic renditions. Authentic Neapolitan recordings preserve the original tempo and subtle lilting swing that make the piece feel like a gentle boat glide. For a British audience, a well‑balanced arrangement that blends a classical piano with a soft choir can bridge the cultural gap while retaining the song’s maritime charm. If you prefer instrumental, seek out a harp or strings version that highlights the barcarola’s flowing rhythm without vocal distraction. Keep an eye on the recording’s date: early 20th‑century versions often retain the folk colour, whereas modern productions may add glossy orchestration that can feel out of place in a cosy home setting.