Dicitencello Vuje

The song 'Dicitencello Vuje', performed by the renowned Neapolitan singer Roberto Murolo, is a classic example of the traditional Italian canzone napoletana, a genre known for its expressive melodies and emotional depth. The lyrics of the song convey a message of deep, unspoken love and longing. The protagonist is asking someone to relay his feelings to the woman he loves because he finds himself unable to express them directly. He has lost sleep and imagination ('o suonno e 'a fantasia') over her, indicating the extent of his infatuation and the turmoil it causes him.

The repeated phrase 'A voglio bene assaje' (I love you very much) emphasizes the intensity of his feelings. The song uses vivid imagery, comparing the beloved to a rose in May and a sunny day, enhancing her beauty and the warmth she brings to his life. The mention of a tear ('Na lácrema lucente') suggests a moment of vulnerability and a plea for honesty, urging the removal of masks and the revelation of true feelings. The singer's desire is so strong that he likens it to a necessity for survival, as essential as air ('Te cerco comm'a ll'aria').

Roberto Murolo's rendition of 'Dicitencello Vuje' is imbued with the passion and soul characteristic of Neapolitan music. His performance captures the essence of a love that is both tormenting and life-affirming, a love that is too overwhelming to be contained within the heart and yet too daunting to be confessed openly. The song is a timeless expression of the complexities of love and the human condition.