Capo 3rd fret

Standard (EADGBE)

Sto crescenno no bello cardillo

 quanta cose che l'aggia 'mparà!

Adda ire da chisto e da chillo

lli mmasciate po' m'adda purtà.

Siente ccà, bello mio, lloco nnante

 ''è na casa, na nenna, e sta

tu la vide ca non è distante

chella nenna aje da ire a truvà!

Si la truove ca stace dormenno

 pe na fata, gué, nun la piglià!

No rommore non fa co li penne

gué, cardì, tu l'avisse scetà?

Si affacciata po' sta a lo barcone

pe na rosa l'avisse piglià?

Gué, cardì, vi ca llà nun te stuone

va vattenne, cardì n'addurà!

Si la truove che face l'ammore

 sto cortiello annascunnete ccà,

'nficcancillo deritto a lo core

e lo sango tu m'aie da purtà!

Ma si pensa: vatté chiano, chiano

 zitto, zitto te e aje d'azzeccà

si afferrare te vo co la mano

priesto mpietto tu l'aje da zompà.

Here's a translation I found on the Web :

I'm breeding a nice goldfinch (thistle finch)

what a lot of things I need to teach him !!

He must go to one and to the other one

and after it must bring me messages.

Listen to me, my dear, not so far from here

there is a house,a girl lives there

you can see it, it's not far

you must go and see that girl.

If you find her sleeping

don't mistake her for a fairy

Don't make noise with your plumes (wings)

otherwise,oh goldfinch, you could wake her up.

If she's standing at the balcony

don't mistake her for a rose

Oh goldfinch, come here since there you're out of tone

go, go away goldfinch, don't go on staying there.

If you find her making love

hide here this knife

stick it straight into her heart

and bring me her blood

But if she's thinking, go away very slowly,

as quiet as a mouse, don't interpose,

if she want catch you with her hand

you must spring quickly in her bosom.

Cheers to all folk players!