Adieu Angelina

Nana Mouskouri's rendition of 'Adieu Angelina' is a hauntingly beautiful song that weaves a tapestry of surreal and apocalyptic imagery. The lyrics, originally written by Bob Dylan, are rich with metaphors and symbolic references that paint a picture of a world in turmoil. The recurring theme of saying goodbye to Angelina serves as a poignant farewell to innocence and peace amidst the chaos and destruction that surrounds the narrator.

The song opens with the theft of the bells of the crown at dawn, symbolizing the loss of order and the onset of chaos. The narrator hears the bells ringing and feels an urgent need to retrieve them, indicating a desire to restore balance. However, the sky is on fire, and the narrator must leave, suggesting that the situation is beyond repair. This imagery sets the tone for the rest of the song, where the narrator repeatedly bids farewell to Angelina as the world around them crumbles.

Throughout the song, Mouskouri describes various scenes of disorder and upheaval. Kings and queens abandon their posts, gypsies invade the court, and pirates shoot at cans in the Milky Way. These surreal images highlight the breakdown of societal norms and the encroachment of chaos into every aspect of life. The narrator's repeated farewells to Angelina underscore a sense of inevitability and resignation, as they acknowledge that they must leave to find peace elsewhere.

The final verses of the song depict a world on the brink of collapse, with machine guns rattling, plastic bombs exploding in churches, and makeup artists closing the eyes of the dead. The narrator's plea for peace amidst this turmoil is a powerful statement on the futility of trying to find order in a world that is falling apart. 'Adieu Angelina' is a poignant and evocative song that captures the sense of loss and longing for peace in a chaotic world.