See the lyrics for “Lazy Mary” written and sung by Lou Monte in 1958.
C’è ‘na luna mezz’u mare
Mamma mia m’a maritare
Figlia mia a cu te dare
Mamma mia pensace tuSe te piglio lu pesciaiole
Isse vai isse vene
Sempe lu pesce mane tene
Se ce ‘ncappa la fantasia
Te pesculia figghiuzza miaLà lariulà pesce fritt’e baccalà
Uei cumpà no calamare c’eggi’accattà
C’è ‘na luna mezz’u mare
Mamma mia m’a maritare
Figlia mia a cu te dare
Mamma mia pensace tuSe te piglio lu pulezia
Isse vai isse vene
Semp’a scuppetta mane tene
Se ce ‘ncappa la fantasia
Te scuppettea figghiuzza mia
Là lariulà pesce fritt’e baccalàUei cumpà ‘na scuppetta c’eggi’accattà
(And now for you nice ladies and gentlemen out there
who don’t understand the Eyetalian languageI’d like to do two es in British)
Lazy Mary you better get up
She answered back I am not able
Lazy Mary you better get up
We need the sheets for the table
Lazy Mary you smoke in bedThere’s only one man you should marry
My advice to you would be
Is to pay attention to me
You’d better marry a firemanHe’ll come and go, go and come
Sempe la pompa mane tene
Se ce ‘ncappa la fantasia
Te pomperia figghiuzza mia
Là lariulà pesce fritt’e baccalàUei cumpà ‘na pompina c’eggi’accattà
0 cummà ca me voglio marità
Trovame ‘na uagliotta
Ca me voglio marità
Trovame ‘na uagliotta
Ca me voglio marità
Trovame ‘na uagliotta
Ca me voglio marità
Hey!
About Lazy Mary Lyrics
“Lazy Mary” by Lou Monte is a playful, humorous song that tells the story of a mother urging her daughter, Mary, to get out of bed and get married.
The song is set in a lively, comedic dialogue between the mother and daughter, with the mother insisting that Mary should stop being lazy and find a husband, while Mary seems reluctant and a bit carefree about the situation.
The song’s chorus, which is adapted from the traditional Italian folk song “Luna Mezzo Mare,” humorously portrays a series of hypothetical suitors that Mary could marry, each with different professions, from a butcher to a fisherman.
The lively and fun tone, coupled with its cultural references, makes it a favorite in Italian-American communities. Essentially, it’s about marriage, family expectations, and the playful banter between a mother and her daughter.