Vieni sulla barchetta is a popular song, widely regarded as “traditional”, but probably tracing its roots back to La barchetta, one of a set of Canzoni Piemontesi composed by Angelo Brofferio (1802–1866) around 1831.
Resources
Angelo Brofferio’s Canzoni Piemontesi at IMSLP La Barchetta appears on p.7
Performances on YouTube
Kinder- und Jugendchör der Musikakademie, Basel.
I rustici.
Jugendchöre Cantat and iVox der Musik-Akademie Basel A wonderful performance of a wonderful 4-part a cappella arrangement by Susanne Würmli-Kollhopp
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Italian lyrics
Vieni sulla barchetta;
Vien, morettina, vien.
Guarda che bianca luna,
Guarda che ciel seren.
Sei la mia speranza;
Non farmi più penar.
Vieni sulla barchetta,
Vieni con me a remar.
Sei la mia bellina;
Vien, morettina crudel.
Sorridono le stelle,
Ma piange il tuo fedel.
English translation
Come into this little boat;
Come, little dark-haired girl, come.
Look at how white the Moon is,
Look how peaceful the sky.
You are my hope;
Don’t make me suffer any longer
Come into this little boat,
Come with me to row.
You are my little beauty;
Come little dark-haired girl so cruel.
The stars are beaming,
But your faithful lover is crying.
