The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Jammo, jammo,
'ncoppa jammo ja'...
Jammo, jammo,
'ncoppa jammo ja'...
Funiculi - funicula,
funiculi - funicula...
'Ncoppa jammo ja',
funiculi - funicula.
Aissera, Nannine', mme nesagliette,
tu saje addo...
(Tu saje addo.)
Addo, sto core 'ngrato, cchiu dispiette
farme nun po...
(Farme nun po!)
Addo lo ffuoco coce, ma si fuje,
te lassa sta...
(Te lassa sta.)
E nun te corre appriesso e nun te struje
sulo a guarda...
(Sulo a guarda.)
Jammo, jammo, ecc.
Se n'e sagliuta, oje ne', se n' e' sagliuta,
la capa gia...
E' ghiuta po' e' tornata, po' e venuta...
sta sempe cca...
La capa vota vota attuorno, attuorno,
attuorno a te...
(Attuorno a te.)
Lo core canta sempe no taluorno:
sposammo, oje ne'...
(Sposammo, oje ne'.)
Jammo, jammo, ecc.
Translation:
Let's go, let's go
let's go up to the top...
Let's go, let's go,
let's go up to the top...
Funiculi - funicula,
funiculi - funicula...
Let's go up to the top,
funiculi - funicula.
Last night, Nanninella, I went up
you know where... (You know where.)
Where your thankless heart can do me no more harm...
(No more harm!)
Where a fire is burning, but if you run,
it leaves you alone...
(Leaves you alone.)
It doesn't chase after you and destroy you
just by looking...
(Just by looking.)
Let's go, let's go, etc.
It's climed, today, it's climed
right to the top...
(Right to the top.)
It came, then went back, then came again,
it's still there...
(It's still there.)
The top spins round and round,
round about you...
(Round about you.)
My heart sings the same old complaint:
let's get married today...
(Let's get married today.)
Let's go, let's go, etc.
'ncoppa jammo ja'...
Jammo, jammo,
'ncoppa jammo ja'...
Funiculi - funicula,
funiculi - funicula...
'Ncoppa jammo ja',
funiculi - funicula.
Aissera, Nannine', mme nesagliette,
tu saje addo...
(Tu saje addo.)
Addo, sto core 'ngrato, cchiu dispiette
farme nun po...
(Farme nun po!)
Addo lo ffuoco coce, ma si fuje,
te lassa sta...
(Te lassa sta.)
E nun te corre appriesso e nun te struje
sulo a guarda...
(Sulo a guarda.)
Jammo, jammo, ecc.
Se n'e sagliuta, oje ne', se n' e' sagliuta,
la capa gia...
E' ghiuta po' e' tornata, po' e venuta...
sta sempe cca...
La capa vota vota attuorno, attuorno,
attuorno a te...
(Attuorno a te.)
Lo core canta sempe no taluorno:
sposammo, oje ne'...
(Sposammo, oje ne'.)
Jammo, jammo, ecc.
Translation:
Let's go, let's go
let's go up to the top...
Let's go, let's go,
let's go up to the top...
Funiculi - funicula,
funiculi - funicula...
Let's go up to the top,
funiculi - funicula.
Last night, Nanninella, I went up
you know where... (You know where.)
Where your thankless heart can do me no more harm...
(No more harm!)
Where a fire is burning, but if you run,
it leaves you alone...
(Leaves you alone.)
It doesn't chase after you and destroy you
just by looking...
(Just by looking.)
Let's go, let's go, etc.
It's climed, today, it's climed
right to the top...
(Right to the top.)
It came, then went back, then came again,
it's still there...
(It's still there.)
The top spins round and round,
round about you...
(Round about you.)
My heart sings the same old complaint:
let's get married today...
(Let's get married today.)
Let's go, let's go, etc.
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.