Translation of the song Palchì no torri artist Elena Ledda
Palchì no torri
Why don’t you return
Proite an cuau su mare
Why did they hide the sea
in custa terra curtza 'e sole?
In this land of so little sun?
Sa unda est un pizu 'e sale
The wave is a pinch of salt
serente a custas renas mias.
Close to this sand of mine.
Boghes e sonos de carrela
Voices and sounds of the street
brincan impare a sa ventana
Jump together to my window
a fagher dantza chin s’ispera,
To make a dance with the hope,
chin su chi restat 'e sa gana
With what’s left of the wish
chi movet custa nae mia.
That moves this boat of mine.
Palchì no torri, tempu andatu?
Why don’t you return, past time?
A ite no torras, pitzinnia?
Why don’t you return, childhood?
Supra lu cori meu paldutu
How much I’d love to pass
comenti la passacci dia.
Over my lost heart.
Palchì no torri, ciòani moru?
Why don’t you return, dark-haired boy?
Palchì avà la dì s’imbruna
Why does the day get dark
e no s’intendi più lu sonu?
And now no sound can be heard?
Sopra li stazzi non v’è luna.
There is no moon above the sheepfolds.
Si paghe das, paghe ti do
If you give peace, I give peace to you,
in su Limbara pianta un àrbure pro me,
Plant a tree for me on Mount Limbara,
àrbure 'e lughe, paghe mi dat
A shining tree, it gives peace to me,
che una mirada e un’umbra 'e domo siat pro me.
May it be for me like a look and a shadow of home.
E deo mi seu gioga’ sa luna,
And I’ve gambled the moon
in d’una notte niedda 'e binu
On one night made black by the wine,
curriat de palas sa fortuna,
The luck was running after me
rànchidu mele m'at lassau.
But it left me only bitter honey.
E proite già no ghetas caltas
And why don’t you throw more cards,
si como no potho giogare?
If now I can no longer play?
Signores, falas majarza:
Gentlemen, a witch comes:
a ite mi cheres trampare?
Why do you want to cheat me?
Si perdo deo no binches tue.
If I lose, you don’t win.
Palchì no torri, tempu andatu?
Why don’t you return, past time?
A ite no torras, pitzinnia?
Why don’t you return, childhood?
Supra lu riu meu paldutu
How much I’d love to pass
comenti la passacci dia.
Over mi lost river.
Si paghe das, paghe ti do
If you give peace, I give peace to you,
in su Limbara pianta un àrbure pro me,
Plant a tree for me on Mount Limbara,
àrbure 'e lughe, paghe mi dat
A shining tree, it gives peace to me,
che una mirada e un'umbra 'e domo siat pro me.
May it be for me like a look and a shadow of home.
Si paghe das, paghe ti do
If you give peace, I give peace to you,
in mesu 'e mare pianta un àrbure pro me,
Plant a tree for me in the middle of the sea,
àrbure 'e lughe, boghe mi dat
A shining tree, it gives voice to me,
che una mirada e un'umbra 'e domo siat pro me.
may it be for me like a look and a shadow of home.
Si paghe das, paghe ti do
If you give peace, I give peace to you,
in mesu 'e mare pianta un àrbure pro me,
Plant a tree for me in the middle of the sea,
àrbure 'e lughe, boghe mi dat
A shining tree, it gives voice to me,
che una mirada e un'umbra 'e sonos siat pro me.
May it be for me like a look and a shadow of sounds.