Paolo Conte: “Gelato al limon” [English Translation]

paolo-conte

[English traslation: Gelato al limon]

A lemon gelato, lemon gelato

lemon gelato
underneath a city
a lemon gelato
and real lemon.

Do you like it?
While another summer will pass
freedom and colourful beads
that is what I’ll give you
and the sensuality of desperate lives
this is the gift I’ll give to you
woman who is coming into my life
with a suitcase full of doubts
and fear not, it has not ended yet
many other things this man will give you.

And a lemon gelato
lemon gelato
lemon gelato
underneath a city
a lemon gelato
lemon gelato
lemon gelato
while another summer goes by…

I offer you a shower at the public bathrooms
that are great chasms of warmth
where like oceans at night
echo the voices of your city
and I offer the afternoon moon
for the Arabian dream you love

and the strong grip of my hand
to you woman, whom I won’t ever let go…
and a lemon gelato
lemon gelato, lemon gelato

I offer you the acumen of electricians
so at least you’ll have a bit of light
for our rooms in grim hotels
where hot nights make us melt.

Like… a lemon gelato,
lemon gelato, lemon gelato…

(Paolo Conte, 1979, “Un gelato al limon“, BMG Ricordi)

Did you know that…?

Francesco De Gregori and Lucio Dalla also sang this song?

How to make lemon gelato

Ingredients

  • 1/2 liter water
  • 200 gr. sugar
  • juice of 7 lemons (or 21 tablespoons Limmi lemon juice)
  • lemon zest

Preparation
Pour the water in a pan. Add the sugar and cook for a few minutes, mixing thoroughly. Add the lemon zest (only the yellow part of the rind) and the lemons juice (or 21 tablespoons of Limmi lemon juice). Let the mixture rest for half an hour. After 30 minutes have passed, strain the mixture, place it in a container and let it cool in the freezer for about 3 hours before serving.