Some Days Hurt
Il giorno di dolore che uno ha
An original translation of the song by Ligabue.
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lyrics
the translation
Some Days Hurt
When the words you've heard your whole life have no meaning now for you,
When you work up all your courage not to fade into the blue,
When you bare your soul to God or to the Fates or who knows who,
No one has an explanation why it's happening to you.
When you take a deep, deep breath and pry yourself up off the floor,
And Life's a little stronger than your whisper, "I'll just go."
Ev'rything seems still and steady while your mind spins round and round--
Just another painful day that comes along.
Tu ru ru, tu ru ru . . .
When there is no going backwards, when, however much you care,
When you fin'lly can't avoid it, no one's Life is ever fair.
When one little spark of meaning would mean living one more day,
"Just keep breathing, it's that easy" you hear everybody say,
When a passing ray of sunshine is a tiny glimpse of hope,
And Life's still a little stronger than your thought, "It's time I go."
When your skin feels like it's burning though it looks like nothing's wrong--
Just another painful day that comes along.
Tu ru ru, tu ru ru . . .
When your heart still goes on beating though a part of it is gone,
When you open up to breathe but there's no air to fill your lungs,
When shit's everywhere around you and it isn't just a dream,
When you can't escape the odor 'cause it's everywhere you've been,
When you wake to your alarm clock and still ask if it is day,
And Life's always so much stronger--never easy, it's OK.
When you take one small step forward and you find that you are strong--
Just another painful day that comes along.
Tu ru ru, tu ru ru . . .
original lyrics with literal and poetic translations
Il giorno di dolore che uno ha
The day of pain that happens
Some Days Hurt
Quando tutte le parole sai che non ti servon più
When all the words you realize they don't serve you anymore
When the words you've heard your whole life have no meaning now for you,
quando sudi il tuo coraggio per non startene laggiù
When you strain your courage to not end up in heaven
When you work up all your courage not to fade into the blue,
quando tiri in mezzo Dio o il destino o chissà che
When you throw out to God or to Destiny or who knows what
When you bare your soul to God or to the Fates or who knows who,
che nessuno se lo spiega perché sia successo a te
Why no one explains to you why it's happening to you
No one has an explanation why it's happening to you.
quando tira un pò di vento che ci si rialza un pò
When a little wind blows and picks you up a little
When you take a deep, deep breath and pry yourself up off the floor,
e la vita è un pò più forte del tuo dirle "grazie no"
And Life is a little stronger than your saying to it "Thanks, no."
And Life's a little stronger than your whisper, "I'll just go."
quando sembra tutto fermo la tua ruota girerà.
When everything seems stopped your wheels will spin
Ev'rything seems still and steady while your mind spins round and round--
>
Sopra il giorno di dolore che uno ha.
On that day of pain that happens.
Just another painful day that comes along.
tu ru ru tu ru ru...
Tu ru ru Tu ru ru . . .
Tu ru ru, tu ru ru . . .
Quando indietro non si torna quando l'hai capito che
When you can't go backwards, when you've understood that
When there is no going backwards, when, however much you care,
che la vita non è giusta come la vorresti te
That Life isn't fair like you want
When you fin'lly can't avoid it, no one's Life is ever fair.
quando farsi una ragione vora dire vivere
When having a reason would mean living
When one little spark of meaning would mean living one more day,
te l'han detto tutti quanti che per loro è facile
Everyone has told you that it's easy for them
"Just keep breathing, it's that easy" you hear everybody say,
quando batte un pò di sole dove ci contavi un pò
When a little sun shines on you where you count a little
When a passing ray of sunshine is a tiny glimpse of hope,
e la vita è un pò più forte del tuo dirle "ancora no"
And Life is a little stronger than your telling it "Still, no"
And Life's still a little stronger than your thought, "It's time I go."
quando la ferita brucia la tua pelle si farà.
When your skin feels like a burning wound
When your skin feels like it's burning though it looks like nothing's wrong--
Sopra il giorno di dolore che uno ha.
On that day of pain that happens.
Just another painful day that comes along.
tu ru ru tu ru ru tu ru ru...
Tu ru ru Tu ru ru . . .
Tu ru ru, tu ru ru . . .
Quando il cuore senza un pezzo il suo ritmo prenderà
When the heart missing a piece picks up it's rhythm
When your heart still goes on beating though a part of it is gone,
quando l'aria che fa il giro i tuoi polmoni beccherà
When you lose the air swirling in your lungs
When you open up to breathe but there's no air to fill your lungs,
quando questa merda intorno sempre merda resterà
When the shit around you stays shit
When shit's everywhere around you and it isn't just a dream,
riconoscerai l'odore perché questa è la realtà
You will recognize the smell because this is reality.
When you can't escape the odor 'cause it's everywhere you've been,
quando la tua sveglia suona e tu ti chiederai che or'è
When your alarm clock beeps and you ask what time it is
When you wake to your alarm clock and still ask if it is day,
che la vita è sempre forte molto più che facile
And Life is always stronger than it is easy.
And Life's always so much stronger--never easy, it's OK.
quando sposti appena il piede lì il tuo tempo crescerà
When you nudge your foot forward your time will grow
When you take one small step forward and you find that you are strong--
Sopra il giorno di dolore che uno ha
On that day of pain that happens.
Just another painful day that comes along.
tu ru ru tu ru ru tu ru ru...
Tu ru ru Tu ru ru . . .
Tu ru ru, tu ru ru . . .
sheet music and chords
the original
comments
I discovered Ligabue when I was trying to reconnect with the Italian language. My friend Michele, from Bergamo, had given me a mix tape in 1998 with a recording of "Hai un momento Dio", that had stuck with me over more than 20 years. I tried out more of Ligabue's music. I enjoyed the sound, and as I worked to understand the lyrics many of the songs hit me on a deeply emotional level. I started trying to translate and sing them to share my very lonely experience with some family and friends. This was the first translation where I felt I really captured the original meaning in a way that beautifully fit the original music. I translated it during a (long) period where I was sad most days. I never felt the suicidal thoughts described by the song, but I did feel the strength of life that kept me going day after day, despite the seemingly neverending sadness. It was a comfort to feel that others were moving forward through similar emotions.