Sottosopra - Gianmaria Testa

Much more than the ground beneath my feet

Here I miss voices and the city

And I miss you, because I haven’t seen you

Since I’ve been here

We went up before the shift ended

To the factory roof to see

Whether from up there we could finally see

The one who got us fired

The first day he took off almost hurriedly

With us above and the others arguing below

But whose faces are those above the roof

And what do they have to look at?

Then the patrol car came tearing in

And a little boy waved from a window

Before night fell

The television crew set up shop

But no, I’m not coming down

Not even the television

Can make me come down

No, I’m not coming down

You go ahead

And go on television

Like passers-by during a sudden downpour

Crammed into a doorway’s only shelter

The people downstairs crushed themselves

Around the eye of the broadcast

'A relative of mine was up there on the roof.'

'outsourcing's to blame as far as I’m concerned'

Everyone wanted the microphone

To say something on television

And while darkness sank into the streets

And onto the gates and railings of Turin

And the light had gone out on the balcony

Where that little boy was

I thought for an instant that I saw you

Among the others showing solidarity down there

But it wasn’t you and I stayed up

On the roof camping out

Days and nights have gone by since that day

And there’s traffic in the streets again

Only rarely is there someone who lifts their gaze

And watches me watching

My comrades have gone, too, and I understand them

It isn’t so easy to stay

If there’s someone waiting for you

If you have someone you can tell things to

And so, all alone now, I keep watch on my own

And I no longer care about getting down or going back

Or even about knowing

Who got us fired

Unchanging days go by and I don’t count them

Let them take away the breath of those who follow them closely

I’ll stay here and, for now, make do

With a little boy’s wave