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“Je so pazzo” is a 1979 song by Pino Daniele, a famous Neapolitan songwriter. It features a blues rhythm and is entirely sung in Neapolitan dialect. As the title suggests – “Io sono pazzo,” in regular Italian, or “I am crazy” – the song is a kind of “In praise of folly,” in which the author asserts his own self.

"The author uses the metaphor of 'craziness' to assert his own freedom."

In the first verses, he says: “E vogl'essere chi vogl'io / ascite fore da casa mia,” or, in regular Italian, “Io voglio essere chi voglio / uscite fuori da casa mia” (I only want to be what I want / so go away from my home). He is aware of his craziness: “Non mi date sempre ragione / io lo so che sono un errore” (Don't always give me the reason / I know I'm a mistake). Yet, he just wants to be free to be crazy! That is, the author uses the metaphor of “craziness” to assert his own freedom. As he goes on to say, “Nella vita voglio vivere / almeno un giorno da leone” (In my life I just want to live at least one day like a lion). Which recalls the Italian proverb, “Meglio un giorno da leone che cento da pecora” (It is better to live one day like a lion, that one hundred days like a sheep).

In his craziness, he compares himself to Masaniello, a famous Neapolitan revolutionary hero, who led the Neapolitan people to revolt – “rivoltarsi” – against Spanish domination in 1647: “Masaniello è cresciuto / Masaniello è turnato” (Masaniello grew up / Masaniello came back). Five days after founding his popular kingdom, Masaniello was condemned and killed by Neapolitans, because he was supposed to be crazy. However, he was later reevaluated and turned into a venerated figure.

Yet, the author is also different from Masaniello: “Non sono menomato / sono pure diplomato.” He is not diminished and he has also graduated school, while the historic revolutionary was a “simple” fisherman. In the final verse, the “crazy man” marks his absolute escape from the world, pronouncing the emblematic phrase, “Nun ce scassate 'o cazzo!” In regular Italian, that means “Non mi rompete il cazzo” (an equivalent of “Don’t break my balls”). “Scassare” is like “smash,” while the “o” is a Neapolitan article that replaces “il.” “Cazzo,” which literally means “penis,” is the most widespread insult in Italy. In fact, it is not always even used as an insult… The song had a huge reception in Italy. It is perhaps one of the most appreciated and well-known songs by Pino Daniele, and it contributed to bringing the Neapolitan singer to the attention of the Italian music industry.