Lyrics of In Bianco E Nero - Carmen Consoli

In Bianco E Nero (original)

Guardo una fotodi mia madre
era felice avr avuto tre anni
stringeva al petto una bambola
il regalo pi ambito
Era la festa del suo compleanno
un bianco e nero sbiadito
Guardo mia madre a quei tempi e rivedo
il mio stesso sorriso
E pensare a quante volte
l’ho sentita lontana
E pensare a quante volte
Le avrei voluto parlare di me chiederle almeno il perch
dei lunghi ed ostili silenzi
e momenti di noncuranza
puntualmente mi dimostravo inflessibile
inaccessibile e fiera
intimamente agguerrita
temendo una sciocca rivalit
Guardo una foto di mia madre
era felice avr avuto vent’anni
capelli raccolti in un foulard di seta
ed una espressione svanita
Nitido scorcio degli anni sessanta
di una raggiante Catania
la scruto per filo e per segno e ritrovo
il mio stesso sguardo
E pensare a quante volte
l’ho sentita lontana
E pensare a quante volte
Le avrei voluto parlare di me chiederle almeno il perch
dei lunghi ed ostili silenzi
e di quella arbitraria indolenza
puntualmente mi dimostravo inflessibile
inaccessibile e fiera
intimamente agguerrita temendo
l’innata rivalit
Le avrei voluto parlare di me chiederle almeno il perch
Le avrei voluto parlare di me chiederle almeno il perch

(translation)

I look at a photo of my mother
he was happy to have been three years old
he was holding a doll to his chest
the most coveted gift
It was his birthday party
a faded black and white
I look at my mother in those days and see again
my own smile
And think about how many times
I felt it far away
And think about how many times
I wanted to talk to her about me and ask her why at least
of long and hostile silences
and moments of carelessness
I promptly proved inflexible
inaccessible and proud
intimately fierce
fearing foolish rivalry
I look at a photo of my mother
she was happy to have been twenty
hair gathered in a silk scarf
and a faded expression
Sharp glimpse of the sixties
of a radiant Catania
I scrutinize it in detail and sign and I find it again
my own gaze
And think about how many times
I felt it far away
And think about how many times
I wanted to talk to her about me and ask her why at least
of long and hostile silences
and of that arbitrary indolence
I promptly proved inflexible
inaccessible and proud
intimately fierce fearing
the innate rivalry
I wanted to talk to her about me and ask her why at least
I wanted to talk to her about me and ask her why at least