I Cento Passi, sung by Modena City Ramblers was played in the ninth episode of Musitaly: Femicide & Mafia.
This song comes from the old soundtrack of the film “I Cento Passi” and was written by the Modena City Ramblers, a well-known folk rock band from the north of Italy.
The band, also known as M.C.R., was formed in 1991. Their music has a strong Celtic influence and can be compared to folk rock music. They’re often known for their left-wing activism, with songs that often criticise the Mafia and fascism.
| Label: | Mescal – 5002 812 |
| Format: | CD, Single, Promo |
| Country: | Europe |
| Released: | 2004 |
| Genre: | Rock |
| Style: | Folk Rock |
Modena City Ramblers – I Cento Passi [Original Version]
“Sei andato a scuola? Sai contare?”
“Come contare?”
“Come contare?! 1, 2, 3, 4, sai contare?”
“Si,so contare”
“Sai camminare?”
“So camminare”
“E contare e camminare insieme lo sai fare?”
“Si! Penso di si!”
“Allora forza! Conta e cammina! Dai… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8…”
“Dove stiamo andando?”
“Forza! Conta e cammina! 9… 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 e 100! Lo sai chi ci abita qua? Ah! U zù Tanu ci abita qua!”
“Cento passi ci sono da casa nostra, cento passi!” (from the movie)
Nato nella terra dei vespri e degli aranci, tra Cinisi e Palermo parlava alla sua radio
Negli occhi si leggeva la voglia di cambiare, la voglia di Giustizia che lo portò a lottare
Aveva un cognome ingombrante e rispettato, di certo in quell’ambiente da lui poco onorato
Si sa dove si nasce ma non come si muore e non se un ideale ti porterà dolore
“Ma la tua vita adesso puoi cambiare solo se sei disposto a camminare, gridando forte senza aver paura
Contando cento passi lungo la tua strada”
Allora… 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 100 passi! 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 100 passi!
“Noi ci dobbiamo ribellare” (from the movie)
Poteva come tanti scegliere e partire, invece lui decise di restare
Gli amici, la politica, la lotta del partito.. alle elezioni si era candidato
Diceva da vicino li avrebbe controllati, ma poi non ebbe tempo perchè venne ammazzato
Il nome di suo padre nella notte non è servito, gli amici disperati non l’hanno più trovato
“Allora dimmi se tu sai contare, dimmi se sai anche camminare, contare, camminare insieme a cantare
La storia di Peppino e degli amici siciliani”
Allora…
Era la notte buia dello Stato Italiano, quella del nove maggio settantotto
La notte di via Caetani, del corpo di Aldo Moro, l’alba dei funerali di uno stato
“Allora dimmi se tu sai contare, dimmi se sai anche camminare, contare, camminare insieme a cantare
La storia di Peppino e degli amici siciliani”
Allora…
“È solo un mafioso, uno dei tanti”
“È nostro padre”
“Mio padre, la mia famiglia, il mio paese… ma io voglio fottermene
Io voglio scrivere che la mafia è una montagna di merda
Io voglio urlare!”
Modena City Ramblers – I Cento Passi [English Translation]
You went to school. Can you count?
What do you mean by “count”?
What do I mean? One, two, three, four, can you count?
Yes, I can count
And can you walk?
I can walk
What about counting and walking at the same time, can you do this?
Yes, I think so
Then go on. Count and walk. Come on.
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight…
Where are we going?
Go on! Count and walk! Nine…
Hush! Peppino!
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 and 100! Do you know who lives here? Ah! Uncle Tano lives here!
Ssh! Hush down!
It’s one hundred steps from our home. One hundred steps! (from the movie)
He was born in the land of vespers and orange trees
Between Cinisi and Palermo he talked on his radio
In his eyes you could read the longing for change
The longing for justice that led him to fight
He had a cumbersome and respected surname
In that environment he so little honoured
You know where you were born, but not how you’re to die
Nor if an ideal will hurt you
But now you can change your life
Only if you’re ready to walk
Shouting aloud without fear
Counting one hundred steps along your way
So…
One, two, three, four, five, ten, one hundred steps
One, two, three, four, five, ten, one hundred steps
One, two, three, four, five, ten, one hundred steps
One, two, three, four, five, ten, one hundred steps
We have to rebel…rebel… (from the movie)
He could, like many others, decide to leave
He chose to stay, instead
His friends, his politics, the fight of his party
He stood for elections
He said he could control them by standing close
But then he didn’t have the time, because he was killed
His father’s name couldn’t help him in the night
His desperate friends never found him
Then tell me if you can count
Tell me if you can walk too
Counting and walking while singing
The story of Peppino and the Sicilian Friends
So…
One, two, three, four, five, ten, one hundred steps
One, two, three, four, five, ten, one hundred steps
It was the dark night of the Italian State
May 9 ’78
The night of Via Caetani, of Aldo Moro’s corpse
The dawn of the funerals of a nation…
Then tell me if you can count
Tell me if you can walk too
Counting and walking while singing
The story of Peppino and the Sicilian Friends
So…
One, two, three, four, five, ten, one hundred steps
One, two, three, four, five, ten, one hundred steps
Peppino: He’s only one of the mafia! One of many!
Giovanni: He’s our father
My father! My family! My country! I don’t wanna give a fuck! I wanna write that mafia is a heap of shit! I wanna scream! (from the movie)
