Bella Ciao

25 Aprile 2018
Background

“Bella ciao” is an Italian song, sang before the Liberation but made popular as an anti-fascist song after
the resistance of the Partisans. The partisan movement was a group of people who fought against the
Italian fascists and the German nazists in Italy during the last years of World war II. The partisans, on
the 25th of April, managed to liberate Turin and Milan with an insurrection.
After the Liberation, the song was translated worldwide, used as a symbol of resistance and freedom.
The invader of the song isn’t defined, therefore it makes it easier to be adapted as a hymn for all those
who wish to be liberated from tyranny.

Translation

Una mattina mi son svegliato This morning I woke up

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao(Goodbye beautiful)
Una mattina mi sono svegliato This morning I woke up
E ho trovato l’invasor. and I found the invader

O partigiano, portami via Oh partisan carry me away

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao(Goodbye beautiful)
O partigiano portami via Oh partisan carry me away
Che mi sento di morir. Because I feel I am dying

E se io muoio da partigiano And if I die as a partisan

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao(Goodbye beautiful)
E se io muoio da partigiano And if I die as a partisan
Tu mi devi seppellir. Then you’ll have to bury me

Seppellire lassù in montagna Bury me up on the mountain

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao(Goodbye beautiful)
Seppellire lassù in montagna Bury me up on the mountain
Sotto l’ombra di un bel fior Under the shade of a beautiful flower

E le genti che passeranno And all those who will pass

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao(Goodbye beautiful)
E le genti che passeranno And all those who will pass
mi diranno che bel fior they will tell me:”what a beautiful flower!”

Questo è il fiore del partigiano This is the flower of the partisan

O bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao ciao(Goodbye beautiful)
Questo è il fiore del partigiano This is the flower of the partisan
Morto per la Libertà! Who died for Freedom!

Siamo tutti antifascisti!