Ma Come Fanno I Marinai

Lucio Dalla's song "Ma Come Fanno I Marinai" delves into the lives of sailors, exploring their perpetual journey and the emotional toll it takes on them. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of sailors in their white uniforms, constantly seeking adventure, love, and sometimes trouble. The song questions where these men go and what they do when they reach port, often finding solace in bars and fleeting romances. The sailors' lives are depicted as a series of transient moments, filled with both vitality and loss, as some return alive while others do not.

The song also touches on the camaraderie among sailors, who recognize each other no matter where they are in the world, from the Equator to the North Pole. Despite their rough and tumble lifestyle, they maintain a sense of brotherhood and masculinity. Dalla highlights the paradox of their existence: they kiss each other in moments of affection yet remain 'true men.' This duality underscores the complexity of their emotional lives, as they navigate the world without lasting love, akin to a postal package sent from place to place without anyone asking how they are.

Dalla's lyrics further explore the existential boredom and weariness that plague sailors. They live dangerously, with their lives hanging by a thread, under a mocking moon and a smiling sky. The monotony of their endless voyages, from Genoa to New York, leaves them dreaming of a return while numbing their senses with alcohol. The song poignantly questions how these men manage to live without the constant presence of others and still retain their sense of self. The recurring theme of a heart chasing after a heartless woman symbolizes their unfulfilled desires and the emotional void they carry with them.