Translation of the song Il povero soldato artist Italian Folk

Il povero soldato

The poor soldier

è condannato a morte

has been sentenced to death,

lontan da la consorte

away from his spouse,

vicino al colonnel.

near the colonel.

Quando al mattin si sveglia

When he wakes up in the morning,

per esser fucilato

to be executed [by the firing squad]

si butta per malato

he malingers

e dice che non può.

and says he can’t.

Ma il polso glielo attasta

But the military doctor

il militar dottore

feels his pulse

e dice: Il tuo malore

and says: «Your sudden illness

son tutte falsità.

is all a lie.»

Arrivano i soldati

The soldiers come,

in fila e derelitti

lined up and forlorn,

e i lor fucili dritti

and their pointed rifles

facevano penar.

were causing agony.

L'onesto condannato

The upstanding convict

domanda di parlare,

asks permission to speak;

la legge militare

the military law

gli vieta di tacer.

forbids him from keeping silent.

Il colonnel vestito

The dressed-up colonel

impugna la sua spada

grabs his sword

e dice che si vada

and says they shall execute him

con morte a fucilar.

by firing squad.

Gli schioppi fan lo sparo

The rifles shoot,

il militar si cade

the trooper falls down,

e tutto il sangue invade

and all his blood floods

la tunica e il cheppì.1

his jacket and his kepi.1

Ma ecco la grazia arriva

Lo and behold, he’s been granted a pardon

a dargli salvamento

and he’s safe now;2

torna al quartier contento

he goes back to his quarters, happy,

a far il suo dover.

to make his duty.