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Italian alpine troops sking up a mountain pass Vintage Audio: Monte Canino
Updated - Sunday, 30 March, 2003

Monte Canino (written circa 1915) comprises one of the so-called 'Alpini Songs'. The Alpini troops were recruited from among the inhabitants of the Alps, and were renowned for possessing a strong esprit de corps.

During the First World War they composed dozens of songs which makeup the majority of Italian war songs. These songs, unlike La leggenda del Piave or La Canzone del Grappa, are far from rhetorical, rather they are heart-felt and sad, with a distinctive musical style.

The Alpini songs gained popularity among the Italian line infantry, who amended each song's lyrics to suit their own situation. After the war they became part of the Alpine tradition and remain well known today.

Reproduced below are the lyrics to Monte Canino, both in Italian plus an English translation. Click here to listen to a version of the song (MP3 format 1,259kb).

Monte Canino

Non ti ricordi quel mese d’Aprile,
quel lungo treno che andava al confine.
Che trasportavano migliaia degli alpini:
sù, sù correte: è l’ora di partir!
Che trasportavano migliaia degli alpini:
sù, sù correte: è l’ora di partir!

Dopo tre giorni di strada ferrata,
ed altri due di lungo cammino,
siamo arrivati sul Monte Canino
e a ciel sereno ci tocca riposar...
siamo arrivati sul Monte Canino
e a ciel sereno ci tocca riposar...

Se avete fame guardate lontano.
Se avete sete la tazza alla mano
se avete sete la tazza alla mano
che ci rinfresca la neve ci sarà.
Se avete sete la tazza alla mano
che ci rinfresca la neve ci sarà.

English Translation - Mount Canino

The You do remember that month of April,
that long train heading to the front.
It carried thousands of Alpini:
let's go let's go, it's time to leave!
It carried thousands of Alpini:
let's go let's go, it's time to leave!

After three days of railroad,
and two more long on foot,
we arrived to Mt. Canino
and we had to rest under the cloudless sky...
we arrived to Mt. Canino
and we had to rest under the cloudless sky...

If you are hungry then look far
if you are thirsty take you cup in hand
if you are thirsty take you cup in hand
the snow will quench our thirst.
if you are thirsty take you cup in hand
the snow will quench our thirst.

A "Dixie" (from the Hindi degci) was an army cooking pot.