Sono Io La Morte

Angelo Branduardi's song "Sono Io La Morte" is a haunting and poetic exploration of the inevitability of death. The lyrics are delivered from the perspective of Death itself, personified as a powerful and unyielding force. The opening lines, "Sono io la morte e porto corona / Io son di tutti voi signora e padrona," establish Death as a sovereign entity, reigning over all living beings without exception. This personification of Death as a queen or ruler underscores its inescapable nature and the ultimate authority it holds over life.

The song's imagery is both vivid and chilling. Death describes itself as cruel and strong, capable of breaking through any barriers, as seen in the lines, "E così sono crudele, così forte sono e dura / Che non mi fermeranno le tue mura." This metaphorical language emphasizes the futility of trying to escape or resist death. The inevitability is further highlighted when Death declares that everyone must bow before its scythe and follow it into the darkness, symbolizing the finality and universality of death.

In a macabre twist, Death invites the listener to a dance, a metaphor for the passage of time and the approach of one's end. The lines, "Sei l'ospite d'onore del ballo che per te suoniamo / Posa la falce e danza tondo a tondo," suggest a grim acceptance and even a ritualistic celebration of mortality. The dance represents the cyclical nature of life and death, where time loses its dominion, and all must eventually succumb to the inevitable. Branduardi's use of traditional folk melodies and poetic lyrics creates a timeless reflection on the human condition, urging listeners to confront and accept the reality of their mortality.