La Canzone Di Marinella

Fabrizio De André's song "La Canzone Di Marinella" tells a poignant and tragic story of a young woman named Marinella. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of her brief and beautiful life, which ends in a mysterious and sorrowful manner. The song begins by describing Marinella's fall into a river during spring, a metaphor for the fleeting nature of life and beauty. The wind, personified, carries her from the river to a star, symbolizing her transcendence from the earthly realm to a celestial one.

Marinella's life is depicted as one devoid of pain and love until she meets a mysterious man, described as a king without a crown or escort. This man, with his white hat and red cloak, represents a romantic and almost fairy-tale-like figure. Marinella follows him without reason, much like a child follows a kite, indicating a sense of innocence and spontaneity. Their brief romance is filled with tender moments, kisses, and smiles, but it is ephemeral, much like the beauty of cornflowers and the fleeting nature of a single day.

The song's narrative takes a dark turn as it recounts Marinella's return to the river, where she mysteriously slips and drowns. The man, unable to accept her death, continues to knock on her door for a hundred years, symbolizing undying love and eternal longing. The song concludes by comparing Marinella to the most beautiful things that live only for a day, like roses, emphasizing the transient nature of beauty and life. De André's poetic lyrics and melancholic melody create a hauntingly beautiful tribute to Marinella, capturing the essence of love, loss, and the ephemeral nature of existence.