DESCRIPTION:
Starting in the early 1950's, the words "teenage" and "alienation" seem to have taken over the popular media, and they have never gone away. In the U.S., we have seen a steady stream of it, from James Dean rebelling without a cause, all the way to Charlie, the seeming quintessence of alienation, struggling his way through "Perks of Being a Wallflower." In the Latin world, we have the pubertal angst of the Neapolitan guaglione (kid, boy, guapo, tough guy, ragazzo, street kid) all the way up to the fighting neoyorquinos of West Side Story. The enormously popular Neapolitan song "Guaglione" outlines the pains of trying to grow up and get a girlfriend. Plus ça change............

Staje sempe ccá, 'mpuntato ccá,/You're always here
'mmiez'a 'sta via,/in the middle of the road.
nun mange cchiù, nun duorme cchiù,/you don't eat enough or sleep enough.
che pecundría./ This is sad!
Gué piccerí' che vène a dí/Hey kid! What's this
'sta gelusia?/jealousy all about?
Tu vuó' suffrí,/you want to suffer,
tu vuó' murí,you want to die.
chi t' 'o ffá fá./Who's making you do this?
Curre 'mbraccio addu mammá,/Run to your mamma's arms.
nun fá 'o scemo piccerí',/Don't be a little fool.
dille tutt' 'a veritá/Tell her the truth!
ca mammá te pò capí.Your mamma will understand.
E passe e spasse sott'a stu barcone,You're running back and forth under this girl's balcony,
ma tu si' guaglione. /but you're still a boy!
Tu nun canusce 'e ffemmene,You haven't known women yet.
si' ancora accussí giovane.You're so young!
Tu si' guaglione./You're still a boy.
Che t'hê miso 'ncapa?/Who put this idea in your head?
Va' a ghiucá 'o pallone./Go play some soccer!
Che vònno dí sti llacreme?What are these tears about?
Vatté', nun mme fá ridere./Come on, beat it! Don't make me laugh!
Curre 'mbraccio addu mammá,/Run to your mamma's arms.
nun fá 'o scemo piccerí',/Don't be a little fool!
dille tutta 'a veritá/Tell her the truth.
ca mammá te pò capí.Your mamma will understand.
Nun 'e ppittá, nun 'allisciá/ /Come on! Quit trying
sti mustacciélle./to grow a moustache!
Nun cerca a te, nun só' pe' te/She's not for you.
chill'uocchie belle./Those beautiful eyes aren't looking for you!
Nun 'a penzá, va' a pazziá/Don't even think about it!
cu 'e guagliunciélle./Go play with the other boys!
Nun t'avvelí,/Don't try to grow up too fast!
c'è tiempo oje ni',/You've got time, boy!
pe' te 'nguajá.You've got the time.
Chi desidere 'e vasá,/The one you want to kiss...
scordatélla, piccerí',/You'd best forget about!
ca si 'o ddiceno a papá,/because if her dad finds out
chisá comme va a ferní./who knows how that might end!
E passe e spasse sott'a stu barcone,/You're running back and forth under her balcony. Etc.
..................................................
Staje sempe ccá, 'mpuntato ccá,/You're always here
'mmiez'a 'sta via./In the middle of the road
Nun mange cchiù, nun duorme cchiù,/You don't eat or sleep enough..
chi t' 'o ffá fá./Who's making you do this!?