La Lega (song)

"La Lega" is an Italian folk song from the Emilian people, sung by the rice-growers of the Po Valley. It is the symbol of the revolt of the agricultural workers against their bosses at the end of the 19th century, when the unions were starting to be created.

"La Lega"
Song
English titleThe Union
Writtenlate 19th century
Songwriter(s)Unknown
Music of Italy
General topics
Genres
Media and performance
Music awards
Music charts
Music festivals
Music mediaMusic media in Italy
Nationalistic and patriotic songs
National anthem"Il Canto degli Italiani"
Regional music

It may be heard in Bernardo Bertolucci's film 1900 when the farmers, under Anna's leadership, start to demonstrate against the expulsion of the farmers because their wealthy landowners do not respect their contracts.

Lyrics
Italian Lyrics
La Lega
Sebben che siamo donne
Paura non abbiamo
Per amor dei nostri figli
Per amor dei nostri figli
Sebben che siamo donne
Paura non abbiamo
Per amor dei nostri figli
Socialismo noi vogliamo*
Refrain :
O li o li o la
E la lega la crescerà
E noialtri socialisti
E noialtri socialisti
O li o li o la
E la lega la crescerà
E noi altri lavoratori
Vogliamo la libertà
E la libertà non viene
Perchè non c'è l'unione
Crumiri col padrone
Crumiri col padrone
E la libertà non viene
Perchè non c'è l'unione
Crumiri col padrone
Son tutti da ammazzar
Refrain
Sebben che siamo donne
Paura non abbiamo
Abbiamo delle belle buone lingue
Abbiamo delle belle buone lingue
Sebben che siamo donne
Paura non abbiamo
Abbiam delle belle buone lingue
E ben ci difendiamo
Refrain
E voialtri signoroni
Che ci avete tanto orgoglio
Abbassate la superbia
Abbassate la superbia
E voialtri signoroni
Che ci avete tanto orgoglio
Abbassate la superbia
E aprite il portafoglio
O li o li o la
E la lega la crescerà
E noialtri lavoratori
E noialtri lavoratori
O li o li o la
E la lega la crescerà
E noialtri lavoratori
I vuruma vess pagà
O li o li o la
E la lega la crescerà
E noialtri socialisti
E noialtri socialisti
O li o li o la
E la lega la crescerà
E noialtri socialisti
Vogliamo la libertà [1]
English Translation
The Union
Although we are women
Fear we do not have
For the love of our children
For the love of our children
Although we are women
Fear we do not have
For the love of our children
Socialism we want
Refrain :
O li o li o la
And the Union will grow
And we socialists
And we socialists
O li o li o la
And the Union will grow
And we workers
We want liberty!
But freedom does not come
Because we're not united
The scabs with the boss
The scabs with the boss
But freedom does not come
Because we're not united
The scabs with the boss
They should all be killed
Refrain
Although we are women
Fear we do not have
We have good tongues
We have good tongues
Although we are women
Fear we do not have
We have good tongues
And we defend well
Refrain
And you fine gentlemen
Who have such pride
Close your pride
Close your pride
And you fine gentlemen
That have such pride
Close your pride
And open your wallet
O li o li o la
And the Union will grow
And we workers
And we workers
O li o li o la
And the Union will grow
And we workers
We want our pay!
O li o li o la
And the Union will grow
And we socialists
And we socialists
O li o li o la
And the Union will grow
And we socialists
We want freedom!

(*)An alternative line to 'Per amor de nostri figli Socialismo noi vogliamo' which is widely used is: 'Per amor de nostri figli In lega ci mettiamo'[2][3][4][5]

English Version

An English singing version is:

1. You say we’re only women, But we are not afraid,

For the sake of our children, For the sake of our children

You say we’re only women, But we are not afraid,

For the sake of our children, Our union will be made Hey!

(Refrain) Oli, oli olla, And the union it will grow

And we the socialistis, And we the socialistis,

Oli, oli olla, And the union it will grow

And we the socialistis, want liberty right now

2. But liberty will not come, Because we’re not united

The blacklegs with the bosses, The blacklegs with the bosses,

But liberty will not come, Because we’re not united

The blacklegs with the bosses, They must be defeated.

3. You say we’re only women, But we are not afraid

We have our defences. We have our defences.

You say we’re only women, But we are not afraid

We have our defences. Our tongues are sharp as blades, Hey

4. You men rich and boastful, The pride of all the nation,

Forget your self-importance, forget your self-importance

You men rich and boastful, The pride of all the nation,

Forget your self-importance, And make a big donation

References
  1. Pivato, Stefano. Bella Ciao: Canto e Politica nella Storia D'Italia Bari: Economica Laterza, 2007
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-05-02. Retrieved 2012-02-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-09-05. Retrieved 2012-02-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. A book of revolutionary songs published in France: 'Karaoke Chorale-pub: 2011 Carnet de chants politiques et d'amours'
  5. "La Lega".

(1) Pivato, Stefano. Bella Ciao: Canto e Politica Nella Storia d'Italia. Bari Editori Laterza, 2007, pp. 82–83.

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