Learn Italian in Song: La Casetta in Canada

The Little House in Canada

(Panzeri / Mascheroni)

Rossella's great-grandmother used to sing this phrase to her. It never made any sense to me then and, now that I've heard the whole song, it makes even less sense! But it apparently was very popular in 1960.

Aveva una casetta piccolina in Canada
con vasche, pesciolini e tanti fiori di lillà,
e tutte le ragazze che passavano di là
dicevano: "Che bella la casetta in Canada"!

Ma un giorno, per dispetto, Pinco Panco l'incendiò
e a piedi poveretto senza casa lui restò.
"Allora cosa fece?" - Voi tutti chiederete.
Ma questa è la sorpresa che in segreto vi dirò:

Lui fece un'altra casa piccolina in Canada
con vasche, pesciolini e tanti fiori di lillà,
e tutte le ragazze che passavano di là
dicevano: "Che bella la casetta in Canada"!

E tante e tante case lui rifece ma, però,
quel tale Pinco Panco tutte quante le incendiò.
Allora cosa fece?
Voi tutti lo sapete!
Lui fece un'altra casa piccolina in Canada
con vasche, pesciolini e tanti fiori di lillà,
e tutte le ragazze che passavano di là
dicevano: "Che bella la casetta in Canada"!

When you see Martin alone in the city
perhaps you'll wonder where he's wandering to.
Alone, without a goal. Alone... but there's a reason:

He had a little house in Canada

with tanks, fish, and many lilacs,

and all the girls who passed that way
said: "What a beautiful little house in Canada!"

But one day, out of spite, Pinco Panco set it on fire
And the poor chap was left without a home.
"What did he do then?" you will all ask.
But this is the surprise which I will secretly tell you:

He made another little house in Canada, with tanks, fish, and many lilacs,

and all the girls who passed that way
said: "What a beautiful little house in Canada!"

And many and many houses he rebuilt, but still
that damned Pinco Panco burned them all.
Then what did he do?
You all know!
He made another little house in Canada, with tanks, fish, and many lilacs,

and all the girls who passed that way
said: "What a beautiful little house in Canada!"

(repeat ad nauseam...)