Arrivederci Roma

Roma, Qld

Today it was “Arrivederci Roma” and “Hello Buddina” (and Lorelle and Sally) for three pretty German girls who are working their way around Australia. The Fräuleins, who had been working the last month in a pub in the outback town of Roma (famous for oil, gas and cattle stations, and situated four hundred and seventy kilometres west of Brisbane) seemed very pleased to turn up at Lorelle’s place (Airbnb), just a stone’s throw from the beautiful white sandy Kawana Beach and a short walk to shops and restaurants. After a rest, a dip in the pool and dinner out, the girls came back laughing and happy to chat with Lorelle, me and one other guest, Angus originally from Adelaide (not Scotland).

“So what was it like in Roma?” asked Lorelle.

“Well,” said Katarina, “it was good for a month but that was long enough.” (And the other two acquiesced with vigorous nodding of their heads and laughing.)

“I bet there were about six people there,” I joked.

“No,” said Katarina, straight-faced, “thirteen!”

The girls, Angus and I burst out laughing.

“But,” Lorelle felt obliged to find something positive to say, “I imagine Roma would be a good place to find a husband…”

“What do you think Angus?” I asked.

“I think the interesting ones probably left at an early age,” Angus smiled at me.

“I expect there are some nice farm boys there…?” Lorelle turned to the German girls.

The girls giggled uproariously and Katarina explained:

“Let’s just say that,” she said (in extraordinarily good English), “after a while, our expectations were somewhat lowered – we thought things were looking up if they had hair and teeth!”

 

And for those of you who may have been hoping to find out more about the song “Arrivederci Roma” – the lyrics and other interesting snippets, including a rendition of the song sung by Dean Martin (with weird lip movements – suggesting jiggery-pokery) are below.

 

  • Arrivederci Roma-Dean Martin. – YouTube

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsLdxCg1aZM

    May 2, 2010 – Uploaded by OPELEB

    Arrivederci Roma” by Dean Martin (Google Play • iTunes …. If you go to the site and type in “Arrivederci Roma

    Arrivederci Roma

    From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
    “Arrivederci Roma”
    (“Arrivederci Darling”)
    Song
    English title Goodbye Rome
    Published 1955
    Composer Renato Rascel
    Lyricist Pietro Garinei
    Sandro Giovannini
    Carl Sigman (English)

    Another version of the song, with the same melody but a new set of English lyrics by Jack Fishman, was published in 1955 with the title Arrivederci Darling. Both versions of the song, in Italian and English, enjoyed lasting and widespread success in the following years.”Arrivederci Roma” (English: “Goodbye, Rome“) is the title and refrain of a popular Italian song, composed by Renato Rascel, with lyrics by Pietro Garinei and Sandro Giovannini. It was published in 1955 as part of the soundtrack of the Italo-American musical filmwith the same title, released as Seven Hills of Rome in English.[1] In the movie, the song is interpreted by the leading character, played by the American actor and singer Mario Lanza. Carl Sigman wrote the lyrics for the English language version of the movie.

    The lyrics[edit]

    Arrivederci (or a rivederci), which literally means “until we see each other again”, is a common Italian equivalent of “goodbye”. The original lyrics express the nostalgia of a Roman man for the dinners and short-lived love affairs he had with foreign tourists who came to Rome. It recalls the popular legend associated with the Trevi Fountain:[2]

    T’invidio turista che arrivi, “I envy you, tourist, you come,
    t’imbevi de fori e de scavi you feast on forums and ruins,
    poi tutto d’un colpo te trovi then suddenly you discover
    fontana de Trevi ch’è tutta pe’ te! the fountain of Trevi, which is there all for you.
    Ce sta ‘na leggenda romana There’s a Roman legend
    legata a ‘sta vecchia fontana attached to this old fountain
    per cui se ce butti un soldino by which if you throw in a penny
    costringi er destino a fatte tornà then you’ll bind Fate to make you come back.
    Arrivederci Roma, Goodbye, Au Revoir… “Goodbye Rome, Goodbye, Au Revoir…
    Mentre l’inglesina s’allontana While the English girl departs
    un ragazzinetto s’avvicina a little kid comes by
    va nella fontana, pesca un soldo, se ne va! goes into the fountain, picks a penny, goes away!
    Arrivederci Roma! Goodbye Rome!”

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