Volare – Domenico Modugno – Lyrics & English Translation (Nel blu’ dipinto di blu’)

Nel blu’ dipinto di blu’, or Volare as it is more popularly known, is an Italian song performed by Domenico Modugno and written by Modugno and Franco Migliacci. Released as a single on February 1st 1958, it became one of the most popular Italian songs ever to be released worldwide, spending five consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

Below you can watch the song on YouTube, follow along with the Italian lyrics and, if you are in doubt about the meaning, check out the English translation at the end of the article!

volare - lyrics and english translation

Volare – Domenico Modugno– Listen on YouTube


Volare – Domenico Modugno – Italian Lyrics

Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più
Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu
Poi d’improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
E incominciavo a volare nel cielo infinito

Volare oh, oh
Cantare oh, oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù

E volavo, volavo felice più in alto del sole
Ed ancora più su
Mentre il mondo pian piano spariva lontano laggiù
Una musica dolce suonava soltanto per me

Volare oh, oh
Cantare oh, oh
Nel blu dipinto di blu
Felice di stare lassù

Ma tutti i sogni nell’alba svaniscon perché
Quando tramonta la luna li porta con sé
Ma io continuo a sognare negli occhi tuoi belli
Che sono blu come un cielo trapunto di stelle

Volare oh, oh
Cantare oh, oh
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
Felice di stare quaggiù

E continuo a volare felice più in alto del sole
Ed ancora più su
Mentre il mondo pian piano scompare negli occhi tuoi blu
La tua voce è una musica dolce che suona per me

Volare oh, oh
Cantare oh, oh
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
Felice di stare quaggiù
Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu
Felice di stare quaggiù
Con te


Volare – Domenico Modugno – English Translation

I think a dream like this never comes back
I painted my hands and face blue
Then, suddenly, I was kidnapped by the wind
And I began to fly in the infinite sky

Flying, oh, oh
Singing, oh, oh
In the blue-painted blue sky
Happy to be up there

And I flew, I flew happily higher than the sun
And even higher
While the world slowly disappeared far down below
Sweet music was playing just for me

Flying, oh, oh
Singing, oh, oh
In the blue-painted blue sky
Happy to be up there

But all dreams in the dawn vanish because
When the moon goes down, it takes them with it
But I keep dreaming in your beautiful eyes
Which are blue like a star-studded sky

Flying, oh, oh
Singing, oh, oh
In the blue of your blue eyes
Happy to be up there

And I keep flying happily higher than the sun
And even higher
While the world slowly disappears into your blue eyes
Your voice is sweet music that plays for me

Flying oh, oh
Singing oh, oh
In the blue of your blue eyes
Happy to be down here
In the blue of your blue eyes
Happy to be down here
With you


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