Creuza de ma
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  • Fabrizio de André
  • Creuza de ma
  • Released in: 1984

“Creuza de ma” is a song by Fabrizio De André, from 1984. It is written in the Genoese dialect and is an union of popular and literary elements, characterized by hypnotic sounds that recall the history of local populations.

REVIEW BY Andrea Music EXPERT
Review posted: 14/12/2013

“Creuza de ma” is a song by Fabrizio De André, included in his 1984 album of the same name. It is written in the Genoese dialect and is a fascinating union of popular and literary elements, characterized by hypnotic sounds that recall the history of local populations. A Balkan gaida (a kind of bagpipe) evokes the Mediterranean atmosphere and reflects the author’s instrumental research. “Creuza de ma” is meant to be felt more than listened to. In fact, the lyrics are almost incomprehensible to Italians and, perhaps, even to contemporary Genoese listeners. Many words are in disuse, due to the progressive abandonment of dialects during the last 30 to 50 years, even though schools are now teaching students to reconsider roots, identity, and dialects.


"“Creuza de ma” literally means “a mule track going to the sea,” and the lyrics can be read as a metaphor for the fate of these fishermen, destined to go up and down the “creuzas” from sunrise to sunset: “Dunde ne vegnì duve l'è ch'ané?” (Where have you came from and where are you going?)"


The main topics covered in the song are the sea, the journey, and life. It is about a town of fishermen, its traditions and atmosphere. “Creuza de ma” literally means “a mule track going to the sea,” and the lyrics can be read as a metaphor for the fate of these fishermen, destined to go up and down the “creuzas” from sunrise to sunset: “Dunde ne vegnì duve l'è ch'ané?” (Where have you came from and where are you going?) .

The fishermen are seen going about their daily activities. At sunset, after their workday, they come out of the sea and “dry their bones” in the tavern. Many characters are introduced: foreign merchants from Lugano with “facce da mandillä” (dishonest faces) or young girls from rich families “che ti peu ammiàle senza ugundun,” meaning men can sleep with them “even without a condom,” perhaps because they are rich enough to raise a child, unlike poor girls. All of them eat “frittûa de pigneu giancu de Purtufin / çervelle de bae 'nt'u meximu vin / lasagne da fiddià ai quattru tucchi / paciûgu in aegruduse de lévre de cuppi.” Some of these are typical dishes and others are absurd. For example, “lévre de cuppi” literally translates as “hares of the roofs,” a metaphor referring to “cats.” The phrase may go back to malevolent urban legends about taverns selling cats to foreigners.


"The song ends with an evocative recording of a market square. We hear a female voice selling fish and drawing attention to people with a chant in dialect, as many street merchants still do today, especially in the South"


In the calm of the moment, fishermen eat and drink wine, waiting for the next day and for the time to return to sea. But now is not that time and the delay is not sad but happy. The song ends with an evocative recording of a market square. We hear a female voice selling fish and drawing attention to people with a chant in dialect, as many street merchants still do today, especially in the South. Fabrizio De André’s successful “experiments” with language, which were innovative in their day, have made this album one of his most appreciated. Popular and poetic at the same time, it gave a new appeal to ethnic music in Italy.

Lyrics in Genovese dialect:

Umbre de muri muri de mainé / dunde ne vegnì duve l'è ch'ané / da 'n scitu duve a l'ûn-a a se mustra nûa / e a neutte a n'à puntou u cutellu ä gua/ e a muntä l'àse gh'é restou Diu / u Diàu l'é in çë e u s'è gh'è faetu u nìu / ne sciurtìmmu da u mä pe sciugà e osse da u Dria / e a funtan-a di cumbi 'nta cä de pria/ E 'nt'a cä de pria chi ghe saià/ int'à cä du Dria che u nu l'è mainà / gente de Lûgan facce da mandillä / qui che du luassu preferiscian l'ä / figge de famiggia udù de bun / che ti peu ammiàle senza u gundun / E a 'ste panse veue cose che daià / cose da beive, cose da mangiä / frittûa de pigneu giancu de Purtufin / çervelle de bae 'nt'u meximu vin / lasagne da fiddià ai quattru tucchi / paciûgu in aegruduse de lévre de cuppi / E'nt'a barca du vin ghe naveghiemu 'nsc'i scheuggi / emigranti du rìe cu'i cioi 'nt'i euggi / finché u matin crescià da puéilu rechéugge / frè di ganeuffeni e dè figge / bacan d'a corda marsa d'aegua e de sä / che a ne liga e a ne porta 'nte 'na creuza de mä

Lyrics in regular Italian:

Ombre di facce facce di marinai / da dove venite dov'è che andate / da un posto dove la luna si mostra nuda /e la notte ci ha puntato il coltello alla gola / e a montare l'asino c'è rimasto Dio / il Diavolo è in cielo e ci si è fatto il nido / usciamo dal mare per asciugare le ossa dall'Andrea / alla fontana dei colombi nella casa di pietra / E nella casa di pietra chi ci sarà / nella casa dell'Andrea che non è marinaio / gente di Lugano facce da tagliaborse / quelli che della spigola preferiscono l'ala / ragazze di famiglia, odore di buono / che puoi guardarle senza preservativo / E a queste pance vuote cosa gli darà / cose da bere, cose da mangiare / frittura di pesciolini, bianco di Portofino / cervelli di agnello nello stesso vino / lasagne da tagliare ai quattro sughi / posticcio in agrodolce di lepre di tegole / E nella barca del vino ci navigheremo sugli scogli / emigranti della risata con i chiodi negli occhi / finché il mattino crescerà da poterlo raccogliere / fratello dei garofani e delle ragazze / padrone della corda marcia d'acqua e di sale / che ci lega e ci porta in una mulattiera di mare


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