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I won’t buy hope anymore
I won’t buy hope anymore,
because it's fake merchandise.
I can't wait to give away
the little I have left of it.
I won’t buy hope anymore,
because it's fake merchandise...
I paid dearly for it once
now I'm selling it cheap
and I'd never advise
a hapless soul to buy it
instead of remaining
steady and stable.
I won’t buy hope anymore,
because it's fake merchandise.
Hope is like a dream
that comes to nothing,
hope is for those
who mess with the wind,
hope often destroys
those who stay in her dance.
I won’t buy hope anymore,
because it’s fake merchandise...
English translation by Paul Archer of the text of Io non compro più speranza
by Marchetto Cara (c.1465 - c.1525) from the first book of Frottolas published by Ottaviano Petrucci.
Io non compro più speranza
Io non compro più speranza
ché gli è falsa mercanzia,
a dar solo attendo via
quella poca che m'avanza.
Io non compro più speranza
ché gli è falsa mercanzia...
Cara un tempo la comprai,
or la vendo a buon mercato
e consiglio ben che mai
non ne compri un sventurato
ma sempre nel suo stato
se ne resti con costanza.
Io non compro più speranza
ché gli è falsa mercanzia...
El sperar è come 'l sogno
che per più riesce in nulla,
el sperar proprio il bisogno
di chi al vento si trastulla,
el sperar sovente annulla
chi continua la sua danza.
Io non compro più speranza
ché gli è falsa mercanzia...
Recording. Marco Beasley and Accordone.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1gN_w2GlOQ
Copyright notice. The translation is provided as an aid to musicians and audiences. Publication of the translation in print or digital formats is expressly forbidden unless permission from the author has been first obtained and acknowledgement of authorship is duly made. Permission will usually be granted so please contact Paul Archer with details of how you wish to make use of the translation.
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