“SCIROCCU” is a special wind, carrying on imaginary and illusion, Summer’s suggestion of heat and fire and midnight dreams. The song is an evocative piece deeply rooted, painting a vivid Mediterranean picture which includes the image of the whole world, with the scent of its sensory details and use of that sensefulness of a trobadourical Sicilian hybrid language.

A Sensory Journey

The lyrics are a masterful collection of sensory impressions. The opening lines are particularly strong, conjuring the smells of a summer garden: “Ciauvuru di limuna” (scent of lemons), “di girsuminu” (of jasmine), and “di mustu e di racina” (of must and grapes). This focus on scent creates a strong sense of place, almost as if you can feel the warmth and humidity of a Sicilian summer evening. The addition of the “ciauvuru di lu mari, ciauvuru di la rina” (scent of the sea, scent of the sand) firmly grounds the song on the coast, a classic and powerful image.

Dreamlike and Poetic

The mood of the song shifts from a simple description of place (guitar M38 Martin) to a more mystical, dreamlike state (the inijection of Moog subsequent 37). The imagery of “Era la stati e ‘nta ‘n miraggiu vitti l’uocchi toi” (It was summer and in a mirage I saw your eyes) introduces a sense of unreality and yearning. The phrase “lu suli coceva” (the sun was scorching) highlights the intensity of the scene, while the appearance of a “crozza ‘nto suli” (a skull in the sun) adds a touch of mystery or perhaps even a hint of the morbid, suggesting that this encounter is not simply a happy one.

The Arrival of the Scirocco

The central theme is the arrival of the scirocco, a hot, humid wind from the Sahara that is a powerful force in the Mediterranean. The personification of the wind as a lover is a beautiful poetic device: “Sull’ale di lu sciroccu vinisti ‘ndi mia” (On the wings of the scirocco you came to me). The wind, or the person it represents, offers both life and death—“Ti dugnu la vita, ti dignu la morti” (I give you life, I give you death)—which suggests a relationship of intense passion and possibly danger. This duality perfectly captures the unpredictable nature of the scirocco itself.

A Powerful Ending

The final lines are particularly poignant. The act of kissing and the description of the lover’s thoughts as a “sertu scognitu di’i to’ pinseri” (an unknown wreath of your thoughts) are intimate and deeply personal. The final, dissolving image of the lover disappearing “Como ‘u suli ‘n funnu a la notti” (like the sun at the bottom of the night) is a stunning and heartbreaking metaphor for their departure. The use of “bottom of the night” instead of “end of the day” adds a layer of depth and finality, suggesting a complete and total disappearance.

Overall, “SCIROCCU” is a poetic journey inquiring the natural world to explore themes of love, transience, and the powerful, sometimes dangerous, nature of passion. The use of dialect and rich, sensory detail makes it feel authentic and deeply personal.