This track is featured on 'Tu Sei bella Aci Catena' - EP

Tu Sei bella Aci Catena - November, 2008

Tom Salvatori – guitar

Leroy Bocchieri – mandolin

Massimo Di Nocera – vocals

Tu sei bella Aci Catena

My parents rented a villa in Sicily for two months at the end of 2008, and my wife and I went to visit and celebrate our anniversary in Italy. It

This track is featured on 'Tu Sei bella Aci Catena' - EP

Tu Sei bella Aci Catena - November, 2008

Tom Salvatori – guitar

Leroy Bocchieri – mandolin

Massimo Di Nocera – vocals

Tu sei bella Aci Catena

My parents rented a villa in Sicily for two months at the end of 2008, and my wife and I went to visit and celebrate our anniversary in Italy. It soon became evident that the only way to navigate in the little towns was to drive there and then ask the locals for directions. And for some reason, one Italian talking to a driver through a car window seemed irresistible to others...we always attracted a few to render their opinion. They'd point in different directions, shrug their shoulders, wave their arms and ultimately start an argument amongst themselves. We would still see the assembled group continuing the discussion in our rear view mirror even after we'd start on our way.

The smartest of all direction-givers was a woman in a small town we had a hard time finding - called Aci Catena. When we stopped, she came out her front door (which was about one yard away from the street) in a bright pink bathrobe, largely pregnant; with kids hanging on her from all sides. She smiled and said “go four streets straight ahead and when you get there...stop again and ask someone else!”

Anyway...having a composer riding shotgun alongside an Italian crooner at the wheel who fancies himself Mario Lanza, we eventually began to sing a little melody to the beautiful words of directions as we drove about. Our music and lyrics have now become the testament to this wonderful Sicilian experience.

Lyrics In Italian: English translation:

Tu sei bella Aci Catena You are beautiful Aci Catena

Aci Catena buon giorno Aci Catena good day! Benvenuti ‘la nostra citta Welcome to our city Dove il centro il mercato Where is the central market? Noi stiam’ guidando in cerchio... We are driving in circles…

Prima ‘vanti, gira la sinistra First go ahead, then turn left Quindi si va, ‘la chiesa Then you go on from church Quindi destra, quindi la sinistra Then right, then left Gira l’ang’lo, la chiesa Turn the corner, at the church

Aci Catena aiuto mi Aci Catena…help me! Aci Catena aiuto mi Aci Catena…help me! Dove il centro il mercato Where is the central market? Noi stiam’ guidando in cerchio... We are driving in circles…

‘ndare l'ang’lo, gira la sinistra Go to the corner, turn left Quindi destra, ‘la chiesa Then right, at the church Gira destra, gira sinistra Turn right, turn left Gira l'ang’lo, ‘la chiesa Turn the corner, at the church

Aci Caten’ arrivederci Aci Catena goodbye! Non abbiamo mai trovat’ il centro We never found the center Preferisco perso in Sicilia I prefer to be lost in Sicily ‘nvece trovat’ altrove Instead of being found elsewhere

Aci Catena tu sei bella Aci Catena you are beautiful