Bella Ciao; Or, How Did An Italian Song End Up In a Spanish Series?

You Will Never Guess, It Even Involves Risotto

The life of the Professor revolved around a single idea: Resistance. His grandfather, who had fought against the fascists in Italy, taught him the song and he taught us.

this is a quote from Money Heist. (La Casa De Papel)

I watched the series (I am slow with catching up with series…), and this song, `Bella Ciao´ caught my attention. It kept playing in my head. I was thinking about the origin and was thinking about Spain and the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939, Nationalists (Conservatives) vs. Anarchist (Communists)). I already made up my mind that it could be a song from the Communists. I made up my own theory, and I talked about it with a very good friend, who also teaches Spanish. To my big embarrassment, I overlooked the fact that Ciao Bella is Italian and not Spanish. I should have known that, and there my theory was blown to pieces. However, my curiosity was raised, and now I really wanted to discover the origin of this song.

Ciao Risotto

As far as I know, Italy is the only European country where they grow rice. The most important region for rice is the Po valley, and the rice produced is the famous rice used for risotto. The most obvious reason we don´t grow rice in Europe is weather conditions, but there is also another reason. Growing rice is not easy; it is laborious, it is in wet circumstances, hot and humid circumstances, and mosquitos love this environment. At the end of the 19th century, mondina workers were seasonal workers in the Po valley, usually women. They would spend their workdays with their bare feet in water up to their knees, and their back bent for many hours. The terrible working conditions, long hours, and very low pay resulted in rebellions and Bella Ciao was their protest song.

Italian, mondina version

Alla mattina appena alzata
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao, ciao, ciao
alla mattina appena alzata
in risaia mi tocca andar.

E fra gli insetti e le zanzare
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
e fra gli insetti e le zanzare
un dur lavoro mi tocca far.

Il capo in piedi col suo bastone
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
il capo in piedi col suo bastone
e noi curve a lavorar.

O mamma mia o che tormento
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
o mamma mia o che tormento
io t’invoco ogni doman.

Ed ogni ora che qui passiamo
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
ed ogni ora che qui passiamo
noi perdiam la gioventù.

Ma verrà un giorno che tutte quante
o bella ciao bella ciao bella ciao ciao ciao
ma verrà un giorno che tutte quante
lavoreremo in libertà.

English translation

In the morning I got up
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao (Goodbye beautiful)
In the morning I got up
To the paddy rice fields, I have to go.

And between insects and mosquitoes
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
and between insects and mosquitoes
a hard work I have to work.

The boss is standing with his cane
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
the boss is standing with his cane
and we work with our backs curved.

Oh my god, what a torment
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
oh my god, what a torment
as I call you every morning.

And every hour that we pass here
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
and every hour that we pass here
we lose our youth.

But the day will come when us all
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
but the day will come when us all
will work in freedom.

Ciao Italian Partisans

The grandfather of `The Professor´didn´t work in the rice paddies, so how did he come up with the song, and why did he teach the song to `The Professor´? He was in the resistance and fought against the fascists. During WWII, Italy was involved in the war because of Germany and occupation by Nazi Germany. There was also a civil war between the Italian resistance and the Italian fascists and the Italian Social Republic, led by Mussolini (1943–1945). The first groups of partisans were formed locally in Italy. Later other groups composed mainly of Slavs and communists sprang up. Others grew around Allied prisoners of war, released or escaped from captivity. These first organized units soon dissolved because of the rapid German reaction. The song `Bella Ciao´ was adapted and became the anthem of the anti-fascist Italian resistance and the Italian partisans. Up till today, the song has stayed an anti-fascist hymn of freedom and resistance.

Italian, Partisan version:

Una mattina mi son svegliato,
o bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao!
Una mattina mi son svegliato
e ho trovato l’invasor.

O partigiano portami via,
o bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao
o partigiano portami via
che mi sento di morir.

E se io muoio da partigiano,
o bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao,
e se io muoio da partigiano
tu mi devi seppellir.

Seppellire lassù in montagna,
o bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao,
seppellire lassù in montagna
sotto l’ombra di un bel fior.

E le genti che passeranno,
o bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao,
e le genti che passeranno
mi diranno «che bel fior.»

Questo è il fiore del partigiano,
o bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao ciao ciao,
questo è il fiore del partigiano
morto per la libertà

Translated in English:

One morning I awakened,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao! (Goodbye beautiful)
One morning I awakened
And I found the invader.

Oh partisan carry me away,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
oh partisan carry me away
Because I feel death approaching.

And if I die as a partisan,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
and if I die as a partisan
then you must bury me.

Bury me up in the mountain,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
bury me up in the mountain
under the shade of a beautiful flower.

And all those who shall pass,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
and all those who shall pass
will tell me “what a beautiful flower.”

This is the flower of the partisan,
oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao
this is the flower of the partisan
who died for freedom

My hunch that `Bella Ciao´ was a communist song was too narrow. To my surprise, the history of the song was far richer than I expected. Communists were involved in the anti-fascist movement, but they were only a part of it. After reading this article, I hope you will think about the rich history behind this hymn when you hear ‘Bella Ciao’ again.

Interesting links:

How You Keep Fooling Yourself: Cognitive Dissonance

You Cannot Know What You Do Not Know: Dunning-Kruger Effect

Be More Curious!

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