Track 5 - Fimmene, Fimmene
The original field recording that inspired the arrangement:
What I love about this song is the courage and determination of these women. It’s what struck me from the very beginning. That these woman would be bold enough to sing this song while working in front of the very bosses that this folk song was talking about is just remarkable.
When writing the music for this arrangement I wanted to display strength without there being a general display of masculine energy with solos etc. I looked to groups such as Zap Mama that seemed to have the perfect mix of beauty and strength in their music. The moments with the most tension represent the tension and possible torment that these women might have been feeling inside even though they were singing this song of protest in calm solidarity. I dedicate this song to all of the strongest women in my life, but primarily my wife and my mother.
Lyrics / Parole:
Fi-mme-ne, fi-mme-ne ci scia-ti a'lu ta-ba-ccu ne scia-ti'a dhoi e ne tur-na-ti qua-ttro 2x
Ci te lu di-sse cu, cu chia-nti za-gu-vi-na pa-ssa lu du-ca e te ma-nda alla ru-vi-na
Ci te lu di-sse cu, cu chia-nti la sa-llu-cu pa-ssa lu du-ca e te lu ti-ra tu-ttu
Fi-mme-ne, fi-mme-ne ci scia-ti a'lu ta-ba-ccu ne scia-ti'a dhoi e ne tur-na-ti qua-ttro 2x
Translation:
Women, women, who go to work the tobacco,
you go in pairs and return in fours. 2x
Who told you to plant Zagovina?
The duke is passing by and he will be your ruin.
Who told you to plant Sallucco?
The duke is passing by and he will pull it all up.
Women, women, who go to work the tobacco,
you go in pairs and return in fours. 2x