What the song is about
The song is about three little words that make our days brighter: per favore, grazie, and scusa. It explains when to use them: when we ask for help, when someone helps us, and when we make a mistake. In the bridge, it says that sometimes we argue, but by talking things over we make up and become friends again.
Useful words and expressions
- Per favore: used to ask for something politely.
- Mi aiuti, per favore?: a polite request.
- Grazie mille: a very strong thank you.
- Scusa / Mi dispiace tanto: to ask for forgiveness. Scusa is also said for small things, while mi dispiace expresses genuine regret.
- Chiedere una mano: to ask for help.
- Sbagliare / fare un errore: to do something wrong.
- Cambiare l'umore: to make someone feel better.
- Litigare: to argue angrily. Litighiamo = we argue.
- Metterci una pietra sopra: to forget a problem and not talk about it anymore.
- Tornare amici: to make up.
- Asciugare un pianto: to comfort someone who is crying.
Grammar
- Dovere + infinitive: cosa devi dire? (what is the right thing to say).
- Present tense for a polite request: Mi aiuti, per favore? The present tense is used, not the future.
- Fare + infinitive (to make someone do something): fai brillare gli occhi, fa crollare il muro, non fare soffrire.
- Imperative with tu: chiedi, di', scusa. The imperative of dire is di' with an apostrophe.
- Pronouns: ci portano lontano (they take us), metterci una pietra sopra (ci = on this thing).
Watch out: forms not to copy
- È una frase dolce che a tutti gusta: the verb is chosen to rhyme with giusta. In modern Italian, people say a tutti piace. Gustare usually means "to savor": gustare un gelato.
- Chiedi gentilmente per non fare soffrire: because of the rhyme, the person is missing. More natural: per non far soffrire nessuno.
- In the second verse, it is written dì "Mi dispiace tanto" with an accent mark. This spelling is often seen, but the correct form of the imperative is di' with an apostrophe, as in the ending. Dì with an accent means "day".
- In the ending, Dici grazie is in the present tense (you say). As advice, you say di' grazie.
- Litighiamo in modo molto duro is a bit heavy. Usually, people say litighiamo forte.