Se Ti Tagliassero A Pezzetti

Fabrizio De André's 'Se Ti Tagliassero A Pezzetti' is a poetic exploration of love, loss, and the enduring beauty found in fragmented moments. The song opens with a vivid metaphor: if the beloved were to be cut into pieces, the wind would gather them, and the kingdom of spiders would sew the skin back together. This imagery suggests that even in the face of destruction, there is a natural and divine force that strives to restore and preserve beauty. The moon and the pollen of God are invoked to symbolize the celestial and spiritual elements that contribute to this restoration, emphasizing the sacredness of the beloved's essence.

The narrative then shifts to a more personal and intimate setting, where the speaker recounts finding the beloved by the river, playing a flower leaf and singing words of love. This scene is rich with sensory details, from the taste of the beloved's lips to the playful exchange of giving and receiving. The imagery of a yellow rose and a copper rose dancing along the night and day stones further illustrates the timeless and cyclical nature of their relationship. The speaker, a musician, finds solace and connection in these moments, even as they ultimately fall into the hay, symbolizing a return to simplicity and the earth.

As the song progresses, the theme of fleeting yet profound encounters is revisited. The beloved is described as being lost and found, taken seriously and playfully, with fortune smiling like a spring pond. The speaker's anticipation of tomorrow brings a sense of nostalgia and longing, addressing 'Lady Liberty' and 'Miss Fantasy' as precious yet elusive companions. The final verse returns to the initial metaphor, reinforcing the idea that even if the beloved were to be fragmented, the natural and divine forces would work to reassemble and preserve their beauty. This cyclical structure underscores the enduring nature of love and beauty, even in the face of impermanence and loss.

De André's lyrical mastery and the song's rich metaphors invite listeners to reflect on the resilience of love and the beauty found in both the whole and the fragmented. The interplay between the personal and the universal, the tangible and the spiritual, creates a deeply moving and thought-provoking experience.