Track 9 - Som Som

The field recording that inspired the 2nd half of Som Som:

Som Som begins with a Northern Italian lullaby and is then contrasted with a song from Southern Italy that refers to the scarcity of food and poverty felt throughout much of the South. The compositional purpose behind this was to not only display the disparaging contrast between much of Northern Italy and Southern Italy, but also to remind us that no matter how bleak things get and how dark our world seems to be that we can still choose to sing the lullaby for the next generation. In other words, we as a people can still choose to pass on and believe in the hope that things will continue to get better.

The beginning of the track also features the incredible educator, composer and bassist, Dave Morgan. Without his inspiration and guidance, this group would not exist.

Lyrics / Parole:

Som, Som, be-ni, be-ni, be-ni, 
Som,-Som,-be-ni, be-ni, don 

Lou som, som, bou pas ve-ni,
L'è fon-tou bon pas dur mi.

Som, som, be-ni, be-ni be-ni 
Som, Som be-ni, be-ni Som 

E la za vec-chia'è gghiut' a lu giar-di-no 
E la za vec-chia'è gghiut' a lu giar-di-no 

pe sse cogl-ir-e la l'a-ri-a tu-nde e la-ri-u là 
pe sse cogl-ir-e la fri-sca nza-la-ta 

Pue si nde va'e nun trov-e la gall-in-a 
Pue si nde va'e nun trov-e la gall-in-a 

cu-ri cu-ri-lla mi' l'a-ri-a tu-nde e la-ri-u là 
cu-ri cu-ri-lla mi' vien' a Man-gia-re 

tro-va le pin-ne la l'a-ri-a tu-nde e la-ri-u là 
tro-va le pin-ne'e la car-ne man… 

Som, Som, be-ni, be-ni, be-ni Som, Som, be-ni, be-ni, be-ni 

Translation:

(Starting with the second half, the Som, Som lullaby is in a French Dialect that I have not found the translation to yet)

The old aunt went into her garden (2x)
to gather a fresh salad. (2x)

Then she looked and couldn’t find her hen. (2x)
”Chick-chick-chick, come here and eat.” (2x)

She found the feathers and the bones. (2x)