L'Abbigliamento Di Un Fuochista

Francesco De Gregori's song "L'Abbigliamento Di Un Fuochista" paints a poignant picture of a young man, likely an immigrant, who is embarking on a perilous journey across the Atlantic. The lyrics are a conversation between a mother and her son, filled with sorrow and a sense of inevitability. The mother observes her son's worn-out clothes and new shoes, symbolizing his readiness for a new life but also the hardships he has already endured. The son's eyes, described as those of an animal in flight, reflect his fear and uncertainty about the future.

The song delves into the harsh realities faced by immigrants, particularly those who worked in the grueling conditions of steamship boiler rooms, known as stokers. The son speaks of being robbed of his life by the backbreaking labor he must endure for meager pay. The imagery of the "nera nera nave" (black black ship) that supposedly cannot sink is a metaphor for the false promises and dangers of the journey. The son is caught between two worlds, with one foot on land and the other in the sea, symbolizing his transition and the precariousness of his situation.

As the song progresses, the mother laments the loss of her son to a foreign land where he will blend in with others and lose his identity. The son, in turn, expresses a sense of detachment from his Italian roots, admitting he doesn't even know what being Italian means anymore. This highlights the theme of cultural dislocation and the loss of identity that often accompanies immigration. The song ends on a somber note, with the son acknowledging the harsh reality of his new life aboard the "nera nera nave," a vessel that represents both hope and despair.