Il Carrozzone (1979). A journey through life and death
The words that introduce “Il Carrozzone“, a song by Renato Zero from 1979, immediately take the listener on a dreamlike journey through life and death.
From the start, Zero is like a jester of existence, telling us the deepest and truest story of all creation : the journey of life that, unavoidably, leads us toward death
He uses the metaphor of the “Carrozzone” to talk about our existence.
The bandwagon of life goes on independently, with the queens, kings, and all the characters that we encounter in our daily life on Earth.
Humor and levity are presented as tools to counter this view, although only in an illusory way, assuming a fundamental role in this reflection, allowing us to face death with humor and superstition, as if it were a jester whose laughter propels us toward life.
Musica, gente, cantate che poi Uno alla volta si scende anche noi
Sotto a chi tocca, in doppio petto blu Una mattina sei sceso anche tu
Every day, people try to get the most out of life through music, singing, and hanging out.
They sing, laugh, and share joy to really appreciate life, even knowing that eventually, they’ll have to leave this world and face the last stage of life.
The human experience is often accompanied by a symbolic representation, like the double-breasted blue, which represents mortality and the need for a farewell.
Bella la vita che se ne va Un fiore, un cielo, la tua ricca povertà
Il pane caldo, la tua poesia Tu che stringevi la tua mano nella mia
That’s where we get to the refrain.
The first phrase celebrates life in all its fullness.
Life is something to be cherished, and this idea is backed up by some pretty compelling evidence.
The celebration of life, which we understand as beauty, is evident in the phrase “Beautiful is the life that goes away“.
It’s a phrase that interweaves images of flowers, the sky, warm bread, and poetry, enriching the human experience.
Then, there’s “You who held your hand in mine“, which is a really special way of expressing affection and love.
It’s like a symbol of the beauty and energy that’s found in life.
We often get so caught up in our daily routines that we miss out on the full beauty of life.
“Bella la vita” dicevi tu È un po’ mignotta e va con tutti, sì, però
Però, però Proprio sul meglio T’ha detto no
“Life is beautiful” is a saying that captures the essence of life.
But there’s a catch : life seems to reject the moments of maximum splendor.
This unexpected event can hit hard and leave a lasting impression.
Instead, the right moment just happens.
Life is full of surprises, and it’s hard to know what’s coming next.
It’s like you think you’ve reached your peak, and then you get this huge letdown.
E il carrozzone riprende la via Facce truccate di malinconia
Tempo per piangere, no, non ce n’è Tutto continua anche senza di te
Even when there’s nothing outside pushing it, it keeps going.
There’s no time for feeling sad or hopeless, not even for the sad feelings that come up at funerals and other events when someone dies.
Life keeps on going, even if the person isn’t there, and death isn’t the end.
That’s basically what our phantom jester is saying.
Bella la vita che se ne va Vecchi cortili dove il tempo non ha età
I nostri sogni, la fantasia Ridevi forte e la paura era allegria
The dreamlike images in this passage show the composition of the “beautiful departing life” with extra elements, made up of other small pieces that, when put together, make up the huge and unforgettable puzzle of our lives.
Dreams, fantasy, old backyards, where time seems to stand still and the moment becomes a spiritual essence.
Life is full of laughter, transforming fear into joy.
Actually, fear of death stops us from living in the moment — not from dying.
”Bella la vita” dicevi tu E t’ha imbrogliato e t’ha fottuto, proprio tu
Con le regine, con i suoi re Il carrozzone va avanti da sé
In this case, it’s worth mentioning the famous saying, “beautiful life“.
But in reality, it’s life itself that has fooled us, leaving us speechless.
Life keeps moving forward, and it’s all about the big players.
“The Wagon” is one of the most meaningful and thought-provoking songs about life, the fact that our experiences are short-lived, and the importance of making our lives meaningful.
The song shows how we’re all part of this big wheel of life, going through ups and downs, good and bad, in a constant battle between our feelings that shape who we are.
When we die, we can’t stop our bodies from physical death, but we can keep living on in a way that’s beyond our physical senses.
So, the music doesn’t end with the last phrase — it keeps going with these sounds that make you feel peaceful and ready to accept what’s coming.
The most basic and emotional part of being human is accepting that we’re all going to die one day.
Once we get that down, we can move on.
Perché con le regine, con i suoi re il carrozzone va avanti da sé.
