I don’t feel Italian

Recently an Italian singer, Daniele Silvestri, made a cover of the song Non mi sento italiano (I don’t feel Italian), by Giorgio Gaber, singer-songwriter, actor and playwright, (groundbreaker of the musical genre known as teatro canzone (song theatre). This is one passage  of the song: "Excuse me, President," sings Gaber, "It's not my fault,/ But this country of ours,/ I don't know what it is./ Excuse me, President/ If I am so impudent/ As to say that I don't feel/ Any sense of belonging,/ And despite Garibaldi/ And other glorious heroes,/ I don't see any reason/ to feel proud." Below an English translation of the lyrics by Cristina Caimotto.

I do not feel Italian I was born and live in Milan. I do not feel Italian but thankfully or unfortunately I am. Excuse me President It’s not my fault But I dont' know what it means to have patriotic feelings. Maybe I am wrong Maybe it’s a good idea But I fear it may turn into An ugly poem. Excuse me President I don’t feel the need Of the national anthem Of which I feel a bit ashamed. As for football players I don’t want to judge Our players do not know it Or maybe they have more decency. I do not feel Italian but thankfully or unfortunately I am. Excuse me President If I'm impudent enough To state that I do not feel Like I belong to anything. Apart from Garibaldi And other glorious heros I don’t see any point In being proud. Excuse me President But I have in mind the exaltation Of black shirts At the time of Fascism. From which one fine day This democracy was born And you need a lot of fantasy In order to praise it. I do not feel Italian but thankfully or unfortunately I am. This wonderful Country Full of poetry Is well pretentious But of our western world It is the outskirt. Excuse me President But this Government of ours That you represent Seems to me a bit wrecked. It is even too clear For people to see That everything is calculated And nothing works. It’s maybe that Italians By long tradition Are too keen to engage in any kind of discussion.

Even in parliament The atmosphere is incandescent They slit each other’s throat And then nothing changes. I do not feel Italian but thankfully or unfortunately I am. Excuse me President You must admit That we should talk about The shortcomings we have. But apart from defeatism We are what we are And we also have a past That we do not forget. Excuse me President But maybe us Italians to other people are only spaghetti and mandolini. Then I get pissed off I’m proud and I show off I throw in their faces What the Rinascimento stands for. I do not feel Italian but thankfully or unfortunately I am. This wonderful Country Is maybe not too wise It has confused ideas But had I been born in other places It could have been worse. Excuse me President Now that I’ve said so much There’s something else That I believe is important. Compared to foreigners We believe less But maybe we have understood That the world is a puppet theatre. Excuse me President I know you’re not too happy If people shout “Italia, Italia” Only at a football match. But in order to survive Or maybe as a joke As we’ve made Europe Let’s make Italy as well. I do not feel Italian but thankfully or unfortunately I am. I do not feel Italian but thankfully or unfortunately thankfully or unfortunately thankfully thankfully I am.