Ah ! che bell'aria fresca
Ch'addora e malvarosa.
E tu durmenno staje
Ncopp'a sti ffronne 'e rosa.

'O sole a poco a poco
Pe 'stu ciardino sponta;
'o viento passa e vasa
'stu ricciulillo 'nfronta.

'I te vurria vasa'...
'I te vurria vasa'...
Ma 'o core nun m' 'o
Ddice 'e te sceta'.
'I me vurria addurmi'
'I me vurria addurmi'
Vicino 'o sciato tujo
N'ora pur'i'!

Sento 'stu core tujo
Che sbatte comm' 'a ll'onne.
Durmenno, angelo mio,
Chi sa tu a chi te suonne!

'A gelusia turmenta
'stu core mio malato;
Te suonne a me? Dimmello...
O pure suonne a n'ato?

'I te vurria vasa'...
'I te vurria vasa'...
Ma 'o core nun m' 'o
Ddice 'e te sceta'.
'I me vurria addurmi'
'I me vurria addurmi'
Vicino 'o sciato tujo
N'ora pur'i'!


English Translation:
I Long To Kiss You
(Lyrics by Vicenzo Russo, Music by Eduardo Di Capua)

A welcome breath of air
Carries the hollyhocks' scent.
I watch you sleeping there,
Fragrant roses for your bed.

The sun has slowly climbed
And is warming the garden now;
A gentle wind wafts by,
Kissing the curl on your brow.

I long to kiss you...
I long to kiss you...
But I don't have the heart
To wake you.
I long to drift asleep
I long to drift asleep
For an hour, close enough
To feel your breath!

I can hear your heart as it drums
Pounding like the waves of the deep.
My darling, who walks your dreams
While you are sound asleep?

My heart is troubled and insecure -
I'm sick with jealousy.
Do you dream of another? I can't endure
The thought you're not dreaming of me.

I long to kiss you...
I long to kiss you...
But I don't have the heart
To wake you.
I long to drift asleep
I long to drift asleep
For an hour, close enough
To feel your breath!