Torna a Surriento

Introduction

"Torna a Surriento" (pronounced [ˈtɔrn a ssurˈrjendə]) is a Neapolitan song composed in 1902 by Italian musician Ernesto De Curtis to words by his brother, the poet and painter Giambattista De Curtis. The song was copyrighted officially in 1905, and has become one of the most popular songs of this traditional genre, which include others such as O sole mio, Funiculì funiculà, and Santa Lucia.

"Torna a Surriento" has been sung by performers as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Beniamino Gigli, Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Jerry Vale, Enrico Caruso, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Ruggero Raimondi, Meat Loaf, Mario Lanza, Franco Corelli,Nino Martini , Robertino Loreti, Giuseppe Di Stefano, Muslim Magomayev, Francesco Albanese, Jerry Adriani, Roberto Carlos, Alfie Boe, Anna Calvi, Karel Gott,IlVolo and Norton Buffalo with George Kahumoku, Jr.; Sergio Franchi covered the song in his 1962 RCA Victor Red Seal debut album, (Romantic Italian Songs), which peaked at #17 on the Billboard Top 200. Not forgetting the comedic version by Billy Connolly, "Saltcoats at the fair"

Claude Aveling wrote the English language lyrics, which are titled "Come Back to Sorrento". Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman re-arranged it and wrote a new set of lyrics for Elvis Presley ("Surrender").

In the television show The Honeymooners, Ralph Kramden identifies the song in preparing for his appearance on a quiz show called "The $99,000 Answer." He mistakenly identifies it as "Take Me Back to Sorrento" and says it was written by "Ernesto Dequista," which his friend Ed Norton says is "absolutely correct."

History

Tradition holds that the origin of the song dates to 1902, when Guglielmo Tramontano, mayor of Sorrento asked his friend Giambattista De Curtis to write the song for the Prime Minister Giuseppe Zanardelli, then vacationing at his seaside hotel, the Imperial Hotel Tramontano; it was claimed that the piece was meant to celebrate Zanardelli's stay.

Some claim the song is a plea to Zanardelli to keep his promise to help the impoverished city of Sorrento, which was especially in need of a sewage system. The song reflects the beauty of the city's great surroundings and the love and passion of its citizens.

More recent research indicates that the song may merely have been reworked for the occasion; family papers indicate that the brothers deposited a copy with the Italian Society of Authors and Editors in 1894, eight years before they claimed to have written it.

Lyrics

英文歌词
Come Back To Sorrento
O'erthe sea the sunlight dancing ,waking thoughtsof tender feeling, I have seen your eyes reflecting, this same linght that makes me dream.
When I pass a lovely garden, breathing scent of many blos soms; There's a mem'ry and a picture of but you within my heart.
Now you say goodbye I'm leaving this poor heart of mine is grieving;Can it be that you've forgotten? Can it be that love is gone? Say not farewell and leave a heart that's borken .
Comeback to Sorrento, that I may live!

中文译文
由于英文歌词是由意大利文翻译的，在我国有多种版本，各种版本有一些差异。
中文歌词译文也有多种，常见的有两种。

尚家骧译
《重归苏莲托》
看，这海洋多么美丽！多么激动人的心情！看这大自然的风景，多么使人陶醉！
看，这山坡旁的果园，长满黄金般的蜜柑，到处散发着芳香，到处充满温暖。
可是你对我说“再见”，永远抛弃你的爱人，永远离开你的家乡，你真忍心不回来？请别抛弃我，别使我再受痛苦！
重归苏莲托，你回来吧！

译者不详
《重归苏莲托》
看，那海浪轻轻荡漾，心中激起无限欢笑，漪旎风光令人奢望 ，花坡春水路满香。
看，这果园一片金黄，蜜橘长满在山坡上，传来一阵阵的芳香，心中充满阳光。
但是，你向我说再见，从此远离我的身旁，离开你可爱的家乡，永远留在远方。请别抛弃我，不要再使我悲伤。
重归苏莲托，回到我身旁。

两种译文准确地表达了歌曲的艺术内涵，语言表达富有诗意，也适合中国人的表达方式和审美方式。中国传统的表达方式之一是托物言志。这首歌曲就类似这种表达方式。用优美的景色、用蜜橘来表达自己对家乡的爱，对心爱的人的爱。歌词优美，旋律动听。不少中国人一接触到它，就被它富有田园般诗意的歌词和优美的旋律所打动，很快就喜欢上了这首闻名全球的意大利歌曲。在被歌曲的艺术魄力所打动的时候，也应该感谢歌词的译者。