Inno di Mameli, which translates in Mameli’s Hymn, is also known as Il Canto degli Italiani, the Song of the Italians, as well as Fratelli d’Italia, Brothers of Italy. The song is the national anthem of Italy and was written in 1847 by the twenty-year-old Italian poet Goffredo Mameli (1827-1849) during Italy’s fight for independence from Austria. Mameli was closely connected to the patriot movement through a friend of his mother’s Giuseppe Mazzini, the republican leader of the cultural and political movement known as Risorgimento (Rise Again). During Italy’s struggle for independence, Mameli’s verse was paired with Michele Novaro’s music and became an instantaneous success and unofficial anthem of the revolution. However, the revolution failed in 1848 and Mameli himself met his end in the line of duty the following year, fighting in Giuseppe Garibaldi’s army against Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte. The hymn regained popularity following World War II when Italy became a republic, yet it was not until November 23rd, 2012 that Inno di Mameli became Italy’s official national anthem.

 

The fact that this anthem was distributed amongst Italian immigrants of the early twentieth century, decades before Italy would become a republic, provides evidence of the Italians’ constant perseverance for the right to success and happiness within their homeland – be it 1840’s Italy or 1910’s New York City. It is also of importance that this song was distributed by an official organization, the Societa Libraria Italiana. This aspect indicates that the connection to culture and the national fight for happiness was not felt among few, but was rather felt at large. In addition, the use of music to promulgate the Italian agenda and inspire success informs us that music was of great importance to Italy. This provides some insight into why so many events designed for Italian immigrants were designed around music.

 

The translation for Inno di Mameli is listed below.

 

English translation:

 

Brothers of Italy,

Italy has woken,

Bound Scipo's helmet

Upon her head.

Where is Victory?

Let her bow down,

For God created her

Slave of Rome.

 

CHORUS:

Let us join in a cohort,

We are ready to die.

We are ready to die,

Italy has called.

Let us join in a cohort,

We are ready to die.

We are ready to die,

Italy has called!

 

We were for centuries

downtrodden, derided,

because we are not one people,

because we are divided.

Let one flag, one hope

gather us all.

The hour has struck

for us to unite.

 

CHORUS

 

Let us unite, let us love one another,

For union and love

Reveal to the people

The ways of the Lord.

Let us swear to set free

The land of our birth:

United, for God,

Who can overcome us?

 

CHORUS

 

From the Alps to Sicily,

Legnano is everywhere;

Every man has the heart

and hand of Ferruccio

The children of Italy

Are all called Balilla;

Every trumpet blast

sounds the Vespers.

 

CHORUS

 

Mercenary swords,

they're feeble reeds.

The Austrian eagle

Has already lost its plumes.

The blood of Italy

and the Polish blood

It drank, along with the Cossack,

But it burned its heart.

 

CHORUS

 

* A YouTube link has been provided to actually hear Inno di Mameli performed.  Note: we do not claim ownership of this video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Goffredo Mameli. (2013). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved fromhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/360771/Goffredo-Mameli

 

Risorgimento. (2013). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved fromhttp://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/504489/Risorgimento

 

 

Metadata tags: Mameli’s Hymn; Il Canto degli Italiani; Song of the Italians; Fratelli d’Italia; Brothers of Italy; Geoffredo Mameli; Michele Novaro; Giuseppe Garibaldi; Giuseppe Mazzini; Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte; Italy; Italian independence; revolution; Italian Republic; national anthem; Risorgimento; Societa Libraria Italiana; Italian history; pursuit of happiness