The priest at the high altar seems like a holy man to me
but when he enters the sacristy, he demands 1000 lira for a Hail Mary.
St. Gennaro, do you know them? They even cheat Jesus Christ.
I have roasted so many nuts and chestnuts in the oven, wandered through so many villages.
How many misfortunes have I found, and how many mistakes have I sung about.

Those dressed in cloth pants are Venetians,
the polenta eaters are from Milan.
The best singers are from Giugliano,
the trigger-happy ones are from Casale.
The impudent ones are from the north
and the mafiosi are Sicilians.
The biggest show-offs are the Romans,
the most beautiful women are in Naples,
and the most unnecessary are the Americans.
The biggest professional cheats are the engineers,
The ones who fake problems are lawyers.
The priests are sycophants,
and the biggest thieves are in the government.

San Gennaro tell me, how will this end?
San Gennaro take care of it, we can't survive with so many traitors.

I walk along the wall and smell the scent of macaroni.
I walk through Qualiano and smell the scent of potatoes.
I walk to the port of Granatéllo and smell cabbage.
But when I get to the vendor, everything is expensive.
Look how much misery is growing...
... grows today...
...tomorrow grows...

Saturday yes
and Sunday not.

Those who work are dying of hunger...
... times yes ... ... sometimes no ...
Those who work die of hunger ...
... sometimes yes ... ...