Santa Lucia

Album: Italian Folk Songs (1850)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Although "Santa Lucia" is an Italian song, it is well known in the English speaking world, including at times as part of the school curriculum; it has even been recorded - in Italian - by no lesser figure than Elvis Presley, who performed it with acoustic guitar accompaniment in the film Viva Las Vegas. A more forceful rendition was made by the great Italian tenor Enrico Caruso.
  • Technically "Santa Lucia" is a Canzone Napoletana (Neopolitan song), ie it heralds from Naples, and was originally in the Neopolitan dialect; written in 3/4 time, it is said to be the first Neopolitan song to be given Italian lyrics.
  • One of the many English translations, "Here In The Twilight," is by the American lyricist Howard Johnson (1887-1941) and is copyright by EMI Robbins 1932 (renewed 1960). There are translations in other languages, including Thai. Scandinavian translations refer to Saint Lucy and the winter-light festival. Saint Lucy (283-304 AD) was a martyr who is also known as Santa Lucia, but the Santa Lucia alluded to in the original song is actually a boat!
  • Although like most folk songs, the author or authors of "Santa Lucia" is lost to antiquity, it is sometimes credited to Teodoro Cottrau (1827–1879), who appears to have been the first person to transcribe it. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for all above

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song Titles

Spot The Real Red Hot Chili Peppers Song TitlesMusic Quiz

The Red Hot Chili Peppers have some rather unusual song titles - see if you can spot the real ones.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

Which Songs are About Drugs?

Which Songs are About Drugs?Fact or Fiction

"25 or 6 to 4" to "Semi-Charmed Life" - see if you can spot the songs that are really about drugs.

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New York

Janis Ian: Married in London, but not in New YorkSong Writing

Can you be married in one country but not another? Only if you're part of a gay couple. One of the first famous singers to come out as a lesbian, Janis wrote a song about it.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.