Il Canto degli Italiani

"Il Canto degli Italiani" (Italian pronunciation: [il ˈkanto deʎʎ itaˈljaːni]; "The Song of the Italians") is a canto written by Goffredo Mameli set to music by Michele Novaro in 1847, and is the current national anthem of Italy. It is best known among Italians as the Inno di Mameli ([ˈinno di maˈmɛːli], "Mameli's Hymn"), after the author of the lyrics, or Fratelli d'Italia ([fraˈtɛlli diˈtaːlja], "Brothers of Italy"), from its opening line. The piece, a 4/4 in B-flat major, consists of six strophes and a refrain that is sung at the end of each strophe. The sixth group of verses, which is almost never performed, recalls the text of the first strophe.

The song was very popular during the unification of Italy and in the following decades, although after the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy (1861) the Marcia Reale (Royal March), the official hymn of the House of Savoy composed in 1831 by order of King Charles Albert of Sardinia, was chosen as the anthem of the Kingdom of Italy. Il Canto degli Italiani was in fact considered too little conservative with respect to the political situation of the time: Fratelli d'Italia, of clear republican and Jacobin connotation, was difficult to reconcile with the outcome of the unification of Italy, which was a monarchy.

After the Second World War, Italy became a republic, and Il Canto degli Italiani was chosen, on 12 October 1946, as a provisional national anthem, a role that it later preserved while remaining the de facto anthem of the Italian Republic. Over the decades there were several unsuccessful attempts to make it the official national anthem, until it finally gained de jure status on 4 December 2017

Lyrics

This is the complete text of the original poem written by Goffredo Mameli. However, the Italian anthem, as commonly performed in official occasions, comprises the first strophe sung twice, and the chorus, then ends with a loud "Sì!" ("Yes!").

The first strophe presents the personification of Italy who is ready to go to war to become free, and shall be victorious as Rome was in ancient times, "wearing" the helmet of Scipio Africanus who defeated Hannibal at the final battle of the Second Punic War at Zama; there is also a reference to the ancient Roman custom of slaves who used to cut their hair short as a sign of servitude, hence the Goddess of Victory must cut her hair in order to be slave of Rome (to make Italy victorious).

In the second strophe the author complains that Italy has been a divided nation for a long time, and calls for unity; in this strophe Goffredo Mameli uses three words taken from the Italian poetic and archaic language: calpesti (modern Italian: calpestati), speme (modern speranza), raccolgaci (modern ci raccolga).

The third strophe is an invocation to God to protect the loving union of the Italians struggling to unify their nation once and for all. The fourth strophe recalls popular heroic figures and moments of the Italian fight for independence such as the battle of Legnano, the defence of Florence led by Ferruccio during the Italian Wars, the riot started in Genoa by Balilla, and the Sicilian Vespers. The fifth strophe of the poem refers to the part played by Habsburg Austria and Czarist Russia in the partitions of Poland, linking its quest for independence to the Italian one.

The sixth and final verse, which is almost never performed, is missing in Mameli's original draft but appears in his second manuscript, however it was omitted in the first printed editions of the text on leaflet. The verse joyfully announces the unity of Italy and goes on to close the song with the same six lines that conclude the initial verse, thus giving the poem a circular structure.

Italian lyrics	IPA transcription	English translation
Fratelli d'Italia, l'Italia s'è desta, dell'elmo di Scipio s'è cinta la testa. Dov'è la Vittoria? Le porga la chioma, ché schiava di Roma Iddio la creò. Coro: Stringiamci a coorte, siam pronti alla morte. Siam pronti alla morte, l'Italia chiamò. Stringiamci a coorte, siam pronti alla morte. Siam pronti alla morte, l'Italia chiamò' Noi fummo da secoli[N 1] calpesti, derisi, perché non siam popolo, perché siam divisi. Raccolgaci un'unica bandiera, una speme: di fonderci insieme già l'ora suonò. Coro Uniamoci, amiamoci, l'unione e l'amore rivelano ai popoli le vie del Signore. Giuriamo far libero il suolo natio: uniti, per Dio, chi vincer ci può? Coro Dall'Alpi a Sicilia dovunque è Legnano, ogn'uom di Ferruccio ha il core, ha la mano, i bimbi d'Italia si chiaman Balilla, il suon d'ogni squilla i Vespri suonò. Coro Son giunchi che piegano le spade vendute: già l'Aquila d'Austria le penne ha perdute. Il sangue d'Italia, il sangue Polacco, bevé, col cosacco, ma il cor le bruciò. Coro Evviva l'Italia, dal sonno s'è desta, dell'elmo di Scipio s'è cinta la testa. Dov'è la vittoria?! Le porga la chioma, ché schiava di Roma Iddio la creò. Coro	[fra.ˈtɛl.li di.ˈtaː.lja |] [li.ˈtaː.lja sɛ ˈdːe.sta |] [del.ˈlel.mo di ˈʃːiː.pjo] [sɛ ˈt͡ʃːin.ta la ˈtɛ.sta ǁ] [do.ˈvɛ lːa vit.ˈtɔː.rja |] [le ˈpɔr.ɡa la ˈkjɔː.ma |] [ke ˈskjaː.va di ˈroː.ma] [id.ˈdiː.o la kre.ˈɔ ǁ] [ˈkɔro] [strin.ˈd͡ʒam.t͡ʃi‿a kːo.ˈɔr.te |] [sjam ˈpron.tj‿al.la ˈmɔr.te ǁ] [sjam ˈpron.tj‿al.la ˈmɔr.te |] [li.ˈtaː.lja kja.ˈmɔ ǁ] [strin.ˈd͡ʒam.t͡ʃi‿a kːo.ˈɔr.te |] [sjam ˈpron.tj‿al.la ˈmɔr.te ǁ] [sjam ˈpron.tj‿al.la ˈmɔr.te |] [li.ˈtaː.lja kja.ˈmɔ ǁ] [noi̯ ˈfum.mo da ˈsːɛː.ko.li] [kal.ˈpe.sti | de.ˈriː.zi |] [per.ˈke nːon sjam ˈpɔː.po.lo |] [per.ˈke sːjam di.ˈviː.zi ǁ] [rak.ˈkɔl.ɡa.t͡ʃi(‿)u.ˈnuː.ni.ka] [ban.ˈdjɛː.ra‿u.na ˈspɛː.me |] [di ˈfon.der.t͡ʃi‿in.ˈsjɛː.me] [d͡ʒa lːoː.ra swo.ˈnɔ ǁ] [ˈkɔro] [u.ˈnjaː.mo.t͡ʃi(‿)a.ˈmjaː.mo.t͡ʃi |] [lu.ˈnjoː.ne‿e lːa.ˈmoː.re] [ri.ˈveː.la.no‿ai̯ ˈpɔː.po.li] [le ˈviː.e del siɲ.ˈɲoː.re ǁ] [d͡ʒu.ˈrjaː.mo far ˈliː.be.ro] [il ˈswɔː.lo na.ˈtiː.o |] [u.ˈniː.ti | per ˈdiː.o |] [ki ˈvːin.t͡ʃer t͡ʃi ˈpwɔ ǁ] [ˈkɔro] [dal.ˈlal.pi‿a sːi.ˈt͡ʃiː.lja] [do.ˈvuŋ.kwe‿ɛ lːeɲ.ˈɲaː.no |] [oɲ.ˈɲwɔn di fer.ˈrut.t͡ʃo] [a‿il ˈkɔː.re‿a lːa ˈmaː.no |] [i ˈbim.bi di.ˈtaː.lja] [si ˈkjaː.man ba.ˈlil.la |] [il ˈswɔn ˈdoɲ.ɲi ˈskwil.la] [i ˈvɛs.pri swo.ˈnɔ ǁ] [ˈkɔro] [son ˈd͡ʒuŋ.ki ke ˈpːjɛː.ɡa.no] [le ˈspaː.de ven.ˈduː.te |] [d͡ʒa ˈlːaː.kwi.la ˈdau̯.strja] [le ˈpen.ne‿a pːer.ˈduː.te ǁ] [il ˈsaŋ.ɡwe di.ˈtaː.lja |] [il ˈsaŋ.ɡwe po.ˈlak.ko |] [be.ˈve | kol ko.ˈzak.ko |] [ma il ˈkɔr le bru.ˈt͡ʃɔ ǁ] [ˈkɔro] [ev.ˈvi.va li.ˈtaː.lja |] [dal ˈsɔn.no sɛ ˈdːe.sta |] [del.ˈlel.mo di ˈʃːiː.pjo] [sɛ ˈt͡ʃːin.ta la ˈtɛ.sta ǁ] [do.ˈvɛ lːa vit.ˈtɔː.rja |] [le ˈpɔr.ɡa la ˈkjɔː.ma |] [ke ˈskjaː.va di ˈroː.ma] [id.ˈdiː.o la kre.ˈɔ ǁ] [ˈkɔro]	Brothers of Italy,[N 2] Italy has woken,[N 3] bound Scipio's helmet[N 4] Upon her head.[N 5] Where is Victory?[N 6] Let her bow down,[N 7] Because as a slave of Rome[N 8] God created her.[N 9] Chorus: Let us join in a cohort,[N 10] we are ready for death. We are ready for death, Italy has called.[N 11] Let us join in a cohort, We are ready for death. We are ready for death, Italy has called![N 12] We were for centuries downtrodden, derided, because we are not one people, because we are divided.[N 13] Let one flag, one hope gather us all. The hour has struck for us to unite.[N 14] Chorus Let us unite, let us love one another, Union and love Reveal to the peoples The ways of the Lord. Let us swear to set free The land of our birth: United, by God, Who can overcome us?[N 15] Chorus From the Alps to Sicily, Legnano is everywhere;[N 16] Every man hath the heart and hand of Ferruccio[N 17] The children of Italy Are all called Balilla;[N 18] Every trumpet blast soundeth the Vespers.[N 19] Chorus The mercenary swords Are feeble reeds.[N 20] Already the Eagle of Austria Hath lost its plumes.[N 21] The blood of Italy, the Polish blood[N 22] It drank, along with the Cossack,[N 23] But it burned its heart.[N 24] Chorus Long live Italy, She has awoken from slumber, bound Scipio's helmet[N 4] Upon her head.[N 5] Where is Victory?[N 6] Let her bow down,[N 7] Because as a slave of Rome[N 8] God created her.[N 9] Chorus

In other scripts

These are adopted scripts which are not (and have never been) officially used to write Italian.

Russian transcription

Фрателли д’Италия,
ль’Италия с'э деста,
делль’эльмо ди Шипио
с'э чинта ла теста.
Дов'э ла Виттория?
Ле порга ла кьома,
ке скьява ди Рома
Иддио ла крео.

КОРО:
Стринджамчи а коорте,
сьям пронти алла морте.
Сьям пронти алла морте,
ль’Италия кьямо.
Стринджамчи а коорте,
сьям пронти алла морте.
Сьям пронти алла морте,
ль’Италия кьямо!

Ной фуммо да секоли
кальпести, деризи,
перке нон сьям пополо,
перке сьям дивизи.
Раккольгачи ун’уника
бандьера, уна спеме:
ди фондерчи инсьеме
джа ль’Ора суоно.

КОРО

Уньямочи, амьямочи,
ль’унионе э ль’аморе
ривелано ай пополи
ле вие дель Синьоре.
Джурьямо фар Либеро
иль суоло натио:
унити, пер Дио,
ки винчер чи пуо?

КОРО

Далль’Альпи а Сицилия
Довункуэ э Леньяно,
Онь’уом ди Ферруччо
А иль коре, а ла мано,
И бимби д’Италия
Си кьяман Балилла,
Иль суон д’оньи скуилла
И Веспри суоно.

КОРО

Сон джунки ке пьегано
Ле спаде вендуте:
Джа ль’Акуила д’Аустриа
Ле пенне а пердуте.
Иль сангуэ д’Италия,
Иль сангуэ Полакко,
Беве, коль козакко,
Ма иль кор ле бручо.

КОРО

Ukrainian transcription

Фрателлі д’Італья,
ль’італія с'е деста,
делль’ельмо ді Шіпіо
с'е чінта ла теста.
Дов'е ла Вітторья?
Ле порга ла кьома,
ке скьява ді Рома
Іддіо ла крео.

КОРО:
Стрінджамчі а коорте,
сьям пронті алла морте.
Сьям пронті алла морте,
ль’Італья кьямо.
Стрінджамчі а коорте,
сьям пронті алла морте.
Сьям пронті алла морте,
ль’Італья кьямо!

Ной фуммо да секолі
кальпесті, дерізі,
перке нон сьям пополо,
перке сьям дівізі.
Раккольгачі ун’уніка
бандьєра, уна спеме:
ді фондерчі інсьєме
джа ль’ора суоно.

КОРО

Ун'ямочі, ам'ямочі,
ль’уніоне е ль’аморе
рівелано ай пополі
ле віє дель Сіньоре.
Джур'ямо фар Ліберо
іль суоло натіо:
уніті, пер Діо,
кі вінчер чі пуо?

КОРО

Далль’Альпі а Січілья
Довункуе е Леньяно,
Онь’уом ді Ферруччо
А іль коре, а ла мано,
І бімбі д’Італья
Сі к'яман Балілла,
Іль суон д’оньї скуілла
І Веспрі суоно.

КОРО

Сон джункі ке п'єгано
Ле спаде пендуте:
Джа ль’Акуїла д’Аустрія
Ле пенне а пердуте.
Іль сангуе д'Італья,
Іль сангуе Полакко,
Беве, коль козакко,
Ма іль кор ле бруччо.

КОРО

Hangul transcription

프라텔리 디탈리아
리탈리아 세 데스타
델렐모 디 시피오
세 친타 라 테스타
도베 라 비토리아
레 포르가 라 키오마
케 스키아바 디 로마
이디오 라 크레오

후렴:
스트린잠치 아 코르테
시암 프론티 알라 모르테
시암 프론티 알라 모르테
리탈리아 키아모
스트린잠치 아 코르테
시암 프론티 알라 모르테
시암 프론티 알라 모르테
리탈리아 키아모

노이 시아모 다 세콜리
칼페스티, 데리시
페르케 논 시암 포폴로
페르케 시암 디비시
라콜가치 우누니카
반디에라, 우나 스페메
디 폰데르치 인시에메
지아 로라 수오노

후렴

우니아모치, 아미아모치
루니오네 에 라모레
리벨라노 아이 포폴리
레 비 델 시뇨레
주리아모 파르 리베로
일 수올로 나티오
우니티, 페르 디오
키 빈체르 치 푸오

후렴

달랄피 아 시칠리아
도분퀘 에 레냐노
오뉴옴 디 페루치오
아 일 코레, 아 라 마노
이 빔비 디탈리아
시 키아만 발릴라
일 수온 도니 스퀼라
이 베스프리 수오노

후렴

손 준키 케 피에가노
레 스파데 벤두테
아 라퀼라 다우스트리아
레 펜네 아 페르두테
일 산게 디탈리아
일 산게 폴라코
베베 콜 코사코
마 일 쿠오르 레 브루초

후렴

Notes

1. A different tense may be found: Noi siamo da secoli, "We have been for centuries".
2. The Italians belong to a single people and are therefore "brothers".
3. "Italy has woken up"; that is, it is ready to fight.
4. Scipio Africanus, winner of Battle of Zama, is brought up as an example for the ability of the Roman Republic to recover from the defeat and fight valiantly and victoriously against the enemy.
5. Scipione's helmet, which Italy has now worn, is a symbol of the impending struggle against the Austrian Empire oppressor.
6. The goddess Victoria. For a long time, the goddess Vittoria was closely linked to ancient Rome, but now she is ready to dedicate herself to the new Italy for the series of wars that are necessary to drive the foreigner out of the national soil and unify the country.
7. Le porga la chioma can also be more literally translated as "Let her tender her hair to Rome" or "Tender her hair". Here, the poet refers to the use, in ancient Rome, of cutting hair to slaves to distinguish them from free women, who instead wore long hair, so Victoria must turn her hair to Italy to be cut off and become "slave" of it.
8. The sense here is that ancient Rome made, with its conquests, the goddess Victoria "its slave".
9. Ancient Rome was great by God's design.
10. The phrase "cohort" can also be translated more literally as "Let us tighten in a cohort". The cohort (in Latin cohors, cohortis) was a combat unit of the Roman army, a tenth of a Roman legion. This very strong military reference, reinforced by the appeal to the glory and military power of ancient Rome, once again calls all men to arms against the oppressor.
11. This alludes to the call to arms of the Italian people with the aim of driving out the foreign ruler from national soil and unifying Italy, still divided into pre-unification states.
12. Although the final exclamation, "Yes!", is not included in the original text, it is always used in all official occasions.
13. Mameli underlines the fact that Italy, understood as the Italian region, was not united. At the time (1847), in fact, it was still divided into nine states. For this reason, Italy had for centuries been often treated as a land of conquest.
14. The hope that Italy, still divided in the pre-unification states, will finally gather under a single flag, merging into one country.
15. The third verse, which is dedicated to the political thought of Giuseppe Mazzini, founder of Young Italy and Young Europe, incites the search for national unity through the help of divine providence and thanks to the participation of the entire Italian people finally united in a common intent.
16. In the Battle of Legnano of 29 May 1176, the Lombard League defeated Frederick Barbarossa; here, the event rises to symbolize the fight against foreign oppression. Legnano, thanks to the historic battle, is the only city, besides Rome, to be mentioned in the Italian national anthem.
17. Francesco Ferruccio, symbol of the siege of Florence (2 August 1530), with which the troops of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, wanted to bring down the Republic of Florence to restore the Medici lordship. In this circumstance, the dying Ferruccio was cowardly finished with a stab by Fabrizio Maramaldo, a captain of fortune in the service of Carlo V. "Vile, you kill a dead man", were the famous words of infamy that the hero addressed to his killer.
18. Nickname of Giovan Battista Perasso, who on 5 December 1746 began, with the throwing of a stone to an officer, the Genoese revolt that ended with the chase of the Archduchy of Austria, who had occupied the city for several months.
19. The Sicilian Vespers, the Easter Monday uprising of 1282 against the French, extended to all of Sicily after having begun in Palermo, unleashed by the sound of all the bells of the city.
20. Mercenaries, whose use is anachronistically attributed to the Austrian Empire, are not valiant like the patriotic heroes but weak like rushes.
21. The Austrian Empire is in decline.
22. Poland, too, had been invaded by Austrian Empire, which had been dismembered with the help of the Russian Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. The fate of Poland is singularly linked to that of Italy. Also, Poland's anthem "Poland Is Not Yet Lost" was written in Italy and originally titled "Song of the Polish Legions in Italy".
23. With the Russian Empire.
24. A wish and an omen: the blood of oppressed peoples, who will rise up against the Austrian Empire, will mark the end.