DESCRIPTION:
Pizzica is both a rhythm and a dance, it belongs to Salento which is the most southern east part of Italy, in County Puglia. The roots of Tarantella (Pizzica is a style of it) are supposed to be in the greek-roman period in connection with pagan rituals. The time of Pizzica is 6/8, it is played with quick triplets with one strong accent on the first beat of the first triplet. The basic "ensemble" to play pizzica was Tamburello (Tambourine) Organetto (Diatonic Accordion) and Violino (Violin), but also guitar, mandolin and flute are played. One of the porpoises of this kind of composition was and still is (like other forms of tarantella) healing somebody "from the bite of the Tarantola" which is a spider, or from a general "sickness of the soul", the sick person dance hours till he fall down exhausted, the drum player often bleeding from the hand cause the beating on the drum. There are several interesting studies both in medicine and anthropology about that (the picture of this video comes from a documentary directed by Ernesto De Martino). In the old time in Salento this kind of music was also played during a duel where the two gentleman tried to kill each other with a knife in a sort of dance of death, it was known as "Danza delle spade" "Dance of the Swords". It was forbidden by law and after that it was (and it is) practiced just for fun using the fingers instead of knifes. Soon I ll post the lyrics with translation. Enjoy

This youtube channel is part of a literary web project (in spanish) which include traditional storytelling https://espacionarrativo.com
Please have a look, it worths : )

The tune is played by Zimbaria, I don't owe the rights of this song
That's the Lyrics

e com' aggiu fare ca vulia te vasu
pigliate 'na paletta e va allu focu
e ca' pe la mamma dice ca hai 'tardatu
dinne ca' e' stata 'na spitta te focu
e spitta te focu, nun e' stata mai
qualche fijiu te mamma me l'ha vasata
e sta' citta mamma e nu' lu maledire
ca' ci m'ha baciata mie, bene me vole'
e bella ca stai 'facciata a lu bignano
e menàme 'nu garofano turchinu e mo' turchinu
e lu tammurrellu meu lu vizziu tene
ca' tutte le caruselle facce' ballare
e ci lu pavone nun se chiama ladru
se chiama giovanottu 'nammuratu

TRANSLATION: Fiery Pizzica or Pizzica of Fire

Girl: What I can do to give you a kiss?
Boy: Tell to your mum that you have to fetch some fire
and if she says that you are late tell her a spark of fire burnt you
Mum: it never has been a spark of fire some guy kissed her
Girl: Shut up mum, don't blame him, if he kissed me it's becuse he loves me
Boy: Lovely girl at the window give me a blue flower, a blue flower
Again the Boy: My tambourine has a bad habit, he makes all the girls dance
and if the peacock (we use the name of the bird to talk about a guy who think to be expecially handsome) it's not a thief it's a young boy in love

it is a quick not that good translation but it will give you the general meaning of the lyrics