(Adriano Celentano - Luciano Beretta - Miki Del Prete, 1966;
Lee Pockriss and Paul Vance)
(English version of song "Il ragazzo della via Gluck",
performed by Verdelle Smith.)





The town I came from was quiet and small 
We played in the meadows, where the grass grew so tall 
In summer the lilacs would grow everywhere 
The laughter of children would float in the air 

Yet I can see it there so clearly now 
Where has it gone
Yes, I can see it there so clearly now 
Where has it gone

As I grew older, I had to roam 
Far from my family, far from my home 
Into the city, where lives can be spent 
Lost in the shadows of tar and cement

..............................
..............................
And every night I'd sit alone and learn 
What loneliness meant 
Up in my rented room above the world 
Of tar and cement

Each day I'd wake up and look at the sky 
I'd think of the meadows where I used to lie 
Then I'd remember all of that's gone 
You're in the city, you better push on 
Get what you came for, before it's too late 
Get what you came for, the meadows can wait

So every night I'd sit alone and learn 
What loneliness meant 
Up in my rented room above the world 
Of tar and cement


Many years later, tired at last 
I headed for home to look for my past 
I looked for the meadows, there wasn't a trace 
Six lanes of highway had taken their place 
Where were the lilacs and all that they meant 
Nothing but acres of tar and cement

Yet I can see it there so clearly now 
Where has it gone
Yes, I can see it there so clearly now 
Where has it gone

Where are the meadows (tar and cement)
Where are the lilacs (tar and cement)
And where is the tall grass (tar and cement)
The laughter of children (tar and cement)
Nothing but acres (tar and cement)
Acres and acres (tar and cement)