Vecchia America

Old America from the times of Rudolph Valentino,
when at the Johnson he would hum
and Frank Sinatra was a kid;
when Gershwin rhapsodized everything in blues
you remained a beautiful memory and nothing more.
Old America of the cotton plantation negroes,
of the checkered magnates with cigar and cane;
when Ziegfield, great king of variety,
amazed with his modernity.
Charleston, Dixieland, tap dance competitions
and behind the screens crazy tête-à-tête.
Dollars, Chesterfield, whiskey galore:
it seems like we found the formula for happiness.
Old America from the times of Tom Mix and Ridolini,
who entertained both adults and children so much;
old America of Menjou's mustache,
you remained a beautiful memory and nothing more...
Charleston, Dixieland, tap dance competitions
and behind the screens crazy tête-à-tête.
Dollars, Chesterfield, whiskey galore:
it seems like we found the formula for happiness.
Old America from the times of Tom Mix and Ridolini,
who entertained both adults and children so much;
old America of Menjou's mustache,
you remained a beautiful memory and nothing more