The Old Town (La Città Vecchia)

Description

"...This song, titled after Umberto Saba's famous poem 'Città Vecchia,' depicts various scenes of life in a historic neighborhood of Genoa. De André portrays the world of the marginalized, so dear to him yet often forgotten, even by God.

Prostitutes and retirees are described with evident sympathy, representing honesty against the hypocrisy of the old professor with ambiguous behavior. The last two stanzas vividly depict the harbor area and its inhabitants: thieves, murderers, and unscrupulous exploiters. Here, De André asks not to judge by legal or bourgeois standards but to feel deep compassion for these poor souls, as they are victims of society and history..."

My interpretation should be seen in the context of a time when I frequently left home, habits, and loved ones to spend weeks abroad, fulfilling my military duties. On this occasion, I was accompanying the newly appointed Captain Gianluca and the young Mazzi Mazzi during a delicate mission in Iraq and Afghanistan. When not facing the scorching heat of Kabul, Nassiriya, or Baghdad, Gianluca and I cheerfully spent our afternoons painting in the cool air of my room in Abu Dhabi, creating a familial atmosphere that often drew in curious strangers.

Many characters in the painting are friends or public figures from that period whose traits matched those in 'La Città Vecchia.' Others represent their roles well because Fabrizio De André's words, filtered through my mind, suggested a connection, even without obvious resemblances.