Bombardano Cortina

Folk Songs

Bombardano Cortina
Italian World War I Song
Bombardano Cortina or The Bombardment of Cortina is an Italian Alpini song originating in the First World War.

At 3:30 in the morning of July 11, 1916, the Italian town of Cortina was shaken by a man-made earthquake. The nearby mountain of Castelleto was torn apart in a tremendous explosion as the Italian army sought to weaken the position of their Austrian opponents. After tunneling hundreds of yards through rock, the soldiers had detonated 35 tons of explosives, sending rock flying high into the sky and following up the blast with an infantry assault.

Bombardano Cortina was composed by the Italian Alpini regiments of the army in 1917 to commemorate the battle. It is here performed by Coro Grigna.

Listen to Bombardano Cortina

Lyrics:
Bombardano Cortina. Oilà.
Dicon che gettan fiori. Oilà.
Tedeschi traditori.
È giunta l'ora, subito fora,
Subito fora dovete andar.
È giunta l'ora, subito fora,
Subito fora dovete andar.

E proseguendo poi. Oilà
Per valle Costeana. Oilà
Giunti sulla Tofana.
Su quella vetta, la baionetta,
La baionetta scintillerà.
Su quella vetta, la baionetta,
La baionetta scintillerà.

Giunti sul Canalone. Oilà
Schierati i suoi soldati. Oilà
Tiri ben aggiustati
La pasta asciutta vi fece tutta,
vi fece tutto lasciare lì.
La pasta asciutta vi fece tutta,
vi fece tutto lasciare lì.

Per Valle Travenanzes. Oilà
E Strada Dolomiti. Oilà
V'inseguiremo arditi;
E voi scappate finchè arrivate,
Finchè arrivate dal vostro Re.
E voi scappate finchè arrivate,
Finchè arrivate dal vostro Re.

English translation:
The bombardment of Cortina. Oilà.
Was like throwing flowers. Oilà.
The Germans are traitors.
The hour has come, Strike now!
Strike now! You have to go.
The hour has come. Strike now!
You have to strike now!

And continuing onward. Oilà.
Through the valley of Costeana. Oilà.
Together on the Tofana.
On that summit, the bayonet,
The bayonet will shine.
On that summit, the bayonet,
The bayonet will shine.

Together on the Canalone. Oilà
His soldiers are deployed. Oilà
Shots well aimed.
All the dry pasta we made,
We will leave it there.
Meaning: We will defeat our enemies
Or else die at the battle.

Through Travenanzes Valley. Oilà
And the Dolomiti Road. Oilà
We will pursue you with daring;
And you will run away until you return,
Until you go back to your King.
And you will run away until you return,
Until you go back to your King.