Translation of the song Cara 'e Luna artist Maria Giovanna Cherchi

Comente dias esser cara ‘e luna

How you must have been a moonface

in su tempus chi fis un’ajanedda

when you were a young maiden,

si finas oje in die as sa fortuna

if even today you have the luck

de parrer de atunzu una meledda!

to look like a little autumn apple!

Fis che reina, mancari viuda,

You were like a queen, although a widow,

cun sos ogros infustos de lentore:

with eyes wet with dew:

deo, supra sas nues de sa duda

I was on the clouds of doubt,

in chirca ‘e abrandare su dolore.

trying to relieve your sorrow.

Sos fizos chi connoschen s’orfania

The sons who know the orphanhood

sun comente sos fenos in s’istiu,

are like dry grass in summer,

che fiores in tempus de traschia

like flowers in stormy weather

trazados dae s’unda ‘e unu riu.

swept away by the wave of a river.

Che fozas a su ‘entu ‘e tramuntana

Like leaves in the north wind,

amus lassadu sa domo ‘e su coro:

we left our beloved home:

dae tando as tancadu sa ventana

since then, you closed your window

fin’a su sole cun sos rajos d’oro.

even to the sun and to its golden beams.

Saludende m’as nadu: in ora ’ona,

When parting, you told me: my son,

fizu meu, ti siat sa partèntzia,

blessed be your departure,

sa bona sorte ti fethat corona *

all around you be the good luck

comente chi mi tenzas a presèntzia.

as if I were constantly in your presence.

Tue as mantesu mudu su dolore

You kept mute your sorrow

pro su triballu meu in terra anzena

for my working in foreign land

ma deo apo connotu s’istriore

but I was aware of the shiver

chi t’at fascadu tota sa carena.

that was wrapping up your body.

Mama ‘e sabiduria antiga e jara

Mother of an ancient and clear wisdom,

chi como ses a prope a sa ‘etzesa,

you who now are close to old age,

totu su chi non t’apo nadu in cara

all what I didn’t say to your face

ti lu so cunfidende in segretesa.

I'm confiding it to you secretly.

Saludende m’as nadu: in ora ’ona,

When parting, you told me: my son,

fizu meu, ti siat sa partèntzia,

blessed be your departure,

sa bona sorte ti fethat corona *

all around you be the good luck

comente chi mi tenzas a presèntzia.

as if I were constantly in your presence.