"'O Surdato 'Nnamurato" (in English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

: "The Soldier in Love") is one of the most famous songs ever written in the Neapolitan language

Neapolitan language

Neapolitan is the language of the city and region of Naples , and Campania. On October 14, 2008 a law by the Region of Campania stated that the Neapolitan language had to be protected....

. The song is generally regarded as the anthem of S.S.C. Napoli

S.S.C. Napoli

Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is a professional Italian football club based in Naples and founded in 1926. The club has spent most of its history in Serie A, where it currently plays its 2011–12 season....

.

The words were written by Aniello Califano

Aniello Califano

Aniello Califano was an Italian poet and writer. He was the author of numerous Neapolitan songs, the music to which was composed by various Neapolitan composers...

 in 1915; the music was composed by Enrico Cannio

Enrico Cannio

Enrico Cannio was an Italian musician and composer. He initially received a diploma in piano to become an orchestra conductor; he spent his whole life in Naples, and during his career he worked at three singing schools in the city. He also led three local theater orchestras, at the Eden, the...

. The song describes the sadness of a soldier who is fighting at the front during World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

, and who pines for his beloved.

Anna Magnani

Anna Magnani

Anna Magnani was an Italian stage and film actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress, along with four other international awards, for her portrayal of a Sicilian widow in The Rose Tattoo....

's performance of the song, in the film La sciantosa

La Sciantosa

"La Sciantosa" is an Italian tv movie produced by RAI television. Anna Magnani played faded singer, Flora, whose career has declined...

, is well known, as is the more modern version of Massimo Ranieri

Massimo Ranieri

Massimo Ranieri , is an Italian pop singer, film and stage actor.He was born in Naples , the fifth of eight children in the family. When he was 10, young Giovanni would sing at restaurants, wedding receptions, etc...

. Nini Grassia directed a film which took its name from the song in 1983.

Italian-American tenor Sergio Franchi

Sergio Franchi

Sergio Franchi was an Italian tenor.Franchi was born in Cremona, Italy. His father wanted him to become an electrical engineer, so he studied both music and engineering simultaneously. The family moved to South Africa in 1952, where Sergio worked part-time as a draftsman, while continuing to study...

 covered this song in his 1962 Billboard Top 200 (number seventeen) RCA Victor Red Seal album Romantic Italian Songs.

Text

Staje luntana da stu core,

a te volo cu 'o penziero:

niente voglio e niente spero

ca tenerte sempe a fianco a me!

Si' sicura 'e chist'ammore

comm'i' so' sicuro 'e te...

Oje vita, oje vita mia...

oje core 'e chistu core...

si' stata 'o primmo ammore...

e 'o primmo e ll'ùrdemo sarraje pe' me!

Quanta notte nun te veco,

nun te sento 'int'a sti bbracce,

nun te vaso chesta faccia,

nun t'astregno forte 'mbraccio a me?!

Ma, scetánnome 'a sti suonne,

mme faje chiagnere pe' te...

Oje vita....

Scrive sempe e sta' cuntenta:

io nun penzo che a te sola...

Nu penziero mme cunzola,

ca tu pienze sulamente a me...

'A cchiù bella 'e tutte bbelle,

nun è maje cchiù bella 'e te!

Oje vita....