The following songs are my quasi-collection of Italian and Canadian karaokes, some old and some not too old, that we can try out at our annual riunione or as a study of Abruzzese culture in song vocals and dance rhythms. The album Zi Nicola (below} includes what my family considered the unofficial anthem of the Abruzzo Regione: "Vola Vola" (Fly Away, Fly Away). Some of our Boomers may recognize these tunes from past birthday celebrations, anniversaries, or possibly last year's reunion. Click on the LP cover to hear the tunes. Click on the text boxes for the lyrics. - Giovanni Sandro 07-31-2026
Click > Tu vuo’ fa’ l’americano
Puorte ‘e cazune cu nu stemma arreto…na cuppulella cu ‘a visiera aizata… (Dm7/E7/Am7)
passa scampanianno pe’ Tuleto (Dm7/E7/Am7)
comm’a nuguappo, pe’ se fa’ guarda’…Tu vuo’ fa’ l’americano
mericano, mericano…
sient’a mme chi t’ ‘o ffa fa’?tu vuoi vivere alla moda,
ma se bevi “whisky and soda”
po’ te siente ‘e disturba’…
Tu abball’ o’ rocchenroll
tu giochi a baisiboll…ma e solde p’ e’ Ccamel
chi te li da
la borsetta di mamma Tu vuo’ fa’ l’americano
mericano, mericano…
ma si’ nato in Italy!sient’ a mme:
nun ce sta niente ‘a fa’
ok, napulitan!
tu vuo’ fa’ l’american
tu vuo’ fa’ l’american!
You want act like an American
You wear trousers with a logo on the back and a cap with visor up
you walk jingling down the Tuleto
like a Mafioso to get yourself looked atYou want to act American,
American, American
listen to me, who forces you to do it?
You want to be fashionable
but if you drink
“whisky and soda”you will feel “a disturbance” [gastric]
You dance rock ‘n’ roll
you play baseball
but the money for the Camels
who gives it to you? Mamma’s purse.
You want to act American,
American, American,
but you were born in Italy!
Listen to me, there’s nothing to do
OK, Neapolitan!
You want to act American,
You want to act American!
Click > L'italiano
Lasciatemi cantare (Dm)
Con la chitarra in mano (Am)
Lasciatemi cantare (E)
Sono un italiano (Am)
Buongiorno, Italia, gli spaghetti al dente (Am)
E un partigiano come presidente (Am)
Con l'autoradio sempre nella mano destra (Am)
E un canarino sopra la finestra (Am/E)
Buongiorno, Italia, con i tuoi artisti
Con troppa America sui manifesti
Con le canzoni, con amore, con il cuore
Con più donne sempre meno suore
Buongiorno, Italia, buongiorno, Maria
Con gli occhi pieni di malinconia
Buongiorno, Dio
Lo sai che ci sono anch'io
Lasciatemi cantare
Con la chitarra in mano
Lasciatemi cantare una canzone piano piano
Lasciatemi cantare
Perché ne sono fiero
Sono l'italiano
Un italiano vero
Yo
The Italian
Let me sing
With the guitar in hand
Let me sing
I am an Italian
Good morning, Italy, with the spaghetti al dente
And a partisan as president
Always with the autoradio always in your right hand
And a canary above the window
Good morning, Italy, with your artists
With too much America on the billboards
With songs, with love, with heart
With always more women and fewer nuns
Good morning, Italy, good morning, Maria
With those eyes full of melancholy
You know I'm here too
Let me sing
With this guitar in hand
Let me sing a song slowly
Let me sing
Because I'm proud of it
I am the Italian
A true Italian
Click > Sweet Caroline
Key: A Capo 2
Where it began I can't begin to know when (A/D)
But then I know it's growin' strong (A/E)
Was in the spring And spring became the summer (A/D)
Who'd have believed you'd come along? (A/E)
Hands Touchin' hands Reachin' out (A/A6)
Touchin' me, touchin' you (E/D/E)
[Chorus]
Sweet Caroline Good times never seemed so good (A/D/E)
I've been inclined To believe they never would (A/D/E)
But now I (D/Bm)
Look at the night
And it don't seem so lonely
And when I hurt
Hurtin' runs off my shoulders
How can I hurt when holdin' you?
Warm Touching warm Reachin' out Touchin' me, touchin' you
Good times never seemed so good
I've been inclined
To believe they never would Oh no, no Chorus x 3
Click > Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
F*** x 2
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road (G/C/D)
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go (G/C/D)
So make the best of this test and don't ask why (Em/D/C/G)
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time (Em/D/C/G)
[Chorus]
It's something unpredictable but in the end is right (Em/G/Em/G)
I hope you had the time of your life (Em/D/G)
So take the photographs and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it's worth, it was worth all the while
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life
[Chorus]
It's something unpredictable, but in the end is right
I hope you had the time of your life
[Chorus]