The Sopranos is a modern mafia story set in North Jersey that ran on HBO cable for a total of 86 episodes over six seasons from January 1999 through June 2007. It's experiencing a renaissance of new and old viewers thanks to the recent release of The Many Saint's of Newark in September of 2021. Exposure doubled due to simultaneous release in both theaters and on HBO Max.
The show doesn't insult the audience. Its nuance sometimes requires viewers to chase it down the rabbit hole to interpret slang expressions. Then there are scenes such as the one where Junior Soprano passionately sings in Italian. The characters around him are visibly affected by his bel canto. It's poignant considering he's ordered seven killings throughout the series and prior.
If you're an audience member requiring a reliable source, you will enjoy what you learn here. We hope you'll please remember us later if you need anything translated to English.
If you've seen the Sopranos season three finale, you may have been curious to know what the somber romantic Italian ballad Corrado (Junior) Soprano (played by Dominic Chianese) performed is all about.
The scene occurred at a wake in an Italian restaurant after the death of a young family member. Was the song about death? Why did the song leave some at the restaurant in tears? What was so meaningful about it? The answer is in the translation.
Core = Heart 'ngrato = Ungrateful
There have been many misspellings.
Core'ngrato, Core' ngrato, Core 'Ngrato, Cor 'Ngrata, Core'n Grato, Core 'n Grato, Core'n Ungrato, Core'N Grato, Core Ingrata, and Core Coure Ingrata.
Core 'Ngrato is considered a great work dating back to 1911. This classic Neapolitan ballad was ironically not produced in Italy — It was composed in Brooklyn. The romanza's lyrics were written by Alessandro Sisca. Due to his politics, this work and others were published under his nome d'arte Riccardo Cordiferro. Cordiferro translates to heart of iron or Richard Iron Heart. The composition is by Salvatore Cardillo and was originally sung by the then famous Enrico Caruso. Many great performers including Placido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli have honored it.
Core 'ngrata is not autobiographical. Allesandro was not God fearing.
Some assert Core 'ngrata was commissioned for Enrico Caruso.
Enrico's popularity made Core 'ngrata and early vinyl hit to a world audience.
As a viewer with an understanding of the words and meaning, the performance has an emotional impact. Watch the scene again above and consider that while you now understand the meaning of the lyrics, the characters crying in the scene don't speak Italian. They're just touched because it's an emotional song on an emotional day.
Catarì, Catarì,
pecchè me dici
sti parole amare;
pecchè me parle
e 'o core me turmiente, Catarì?
Nun te scurdà
ca t'aggio date 'o core,
Catarì, nun te scurdà!
Catarì, Catarì, che vene
a dicere stu parlà
ca me dà spaseme?
Tu nun'nce pienze a stu dulore mio,
tu nun'nce pienze,
tu nun te ne cure.
Core, core 'ngrato,
t'aie pigliato 'a vita mia,
tutt'è passato e
nun'nce pienze cchiù!
Catarì, Catarì
tu nun o saie ca 'nfino int' 'a na chiesa
io so' trasuto e aggio priato a Dio,
Catarì
e ll'aggio ditto pure a 'o cunfessore
I' sto' a suffrì pe chella lla'!
Sto a suffrì, sto a suffrì
nun se po credere
sto' a suffrì tutte li strazie
e 'o cunfessore ch'e' persona santa
m'ha ditto: figlio mio, lassala sta', lassala sta'!
Ungrateful heart
Catarina, Catarina,
why do say
such bitter words;
Why do you speak
and torment my heart, Catarina?
Do not forget
I gave you my heart,
Catarina do not forget!
Catarina, Catarina, what meaning
Do your words hold,
Words that leave me shuddering?
You do not think of the pain I feel,
You do not think,
You do not care.
Ungrateful, ungrateful heart
You have taken my life,
All has passed
And I am in your thoughts no more!
Catarina, Catarina
You do not know that I even went into a church
And prayed to God,
Catarina
I confessed to a priest
That I was suffering for you!
I was suffering, I was suffering
Suffering beyond words
I was suffering every punishment and pain
And the priest, a saintly man
Turned to me and said: my son, let her go, let her go!
Perhaps this is more accurate as an interpretation.
I
Catarì, Catarì,
Pecchè me dici sti parole amare?
Pecchè me parle e 'o core me turmiente,
Catarì?...
Nun te scurdà ca t'aggio date 'o core,
Catarì!...
Nun te scurdà!...
Catarì, Catarì... che vene a dicere
Stu parlà ca me dà spaseme?...
Tu nun'nce pienze a stu dulore mio,
tu nun'nce pienze, tu nun te ne cure...
Core, core 'ngrato,
T'aie pigliato 'a vita mia...
Tutt'è passato e nun'nce pienze cchiù!...
II
Catarì, Catarì...
Tu nun 'o ssaie ca 'nfin 'int'a na chiesa
Io so' trasuto e aggio priato a Dio...
Catarì...
E l'aggio ditto pure a 'o cunfessore:
Io sto a suffrì...
Sto a suffrì, sto a suffrì, nun se po' credere,
Sto' a suffrì tutte li strazie...
E''o cunfessore, ch'e' persona santa,
M'ha ditto: Figlio mio, l'assala sta', l
Lassala sta'!
Core, core 'ngrato,
T'aie pigliato 'a vita mia...
Tutt'è passato e nun'nce pienze cchiù!...
I
Catarì, Catarì
Why do you tell me these bitter words?
Why do you talk to me [this way] and torment my heart?
Catarì...
Don't forget that I have given you my heart,
Catarì...
Don't forget!...
Catarì, Catarì...what do they mean,
These words that cause me spams of pain?
You don't think of my pain,
You don't think about it, you don't care about it.
Heart, ungrateful heart.
You've taken my life...
It's over, and you don't think about it anymore...
II
Catarì, Catarì
You don't know that I ended up in a church
And prayed to God...
Catarì
I have also told the confessor priest:
I am suffering!
I am suffering, I am suffering, you can't imagine,
I am suffering all forms of torment...
And the priest, who is a holy person,
Told me: My son, let her go...
Let her go!
Heart, ungrateful heart.
You have taken my life...
It's over and you don't think about it anymore!
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