Diavoli

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a chilling vision: a future where the world is "illuminata dal fuoco" (lit by fire). Amidst this inferno, the narrator spots familiar faces, those who preach calm while "la città brucia" (the city burns). This immediate contrast sets a tone of urgent, apocalyptic disillusionment. The core tension lies in the stark hypocrisy revealed across different societal layers. The "diavoli" (devils) are not mythical creatures but rather the seemingly ordinary people—from those in power who tell others "di stare calmi" to religious figures and struggling citizens. The repeated image of these "diavoli" dancing "sotto la luna" (under the moon) while the city burns underscores a disturbing celebration of decay and denial. The second verse sharpens this critique, focusing on religious corruption in a "paese dormitorio" (dormitory town). The lyrics paint a picture where "il perdono lo compri in chiesa" (forgiveness you buy in church), and the church itself "fa credito" (gives credit), trapping parishioners in perpetual debt. The vivid image of a man who "beve grappa" and abuses his wife, yet "il venerdì si confessa" (on Friday he confesses) to escape hell, highlights a transactional, superficial faith enabled by a materialistic clergy, symbolized by the priest who "gira in Mercedes" (drives a Mercedes). The third verse broadens the scope to economic and social decay, again from the perspective of someone "fuori città" (outside the city). It describes a "paese di seconda scelta" (second-choice town) where quality is unaffordable, artisans fail, and corruption dictates success: "l'appalto lo vince soltanto chi ha i soldi per pagare chi sta in alto" (the contract is won only by those who have money to pay those at the top). The lyrics even touch on exploitation, noting that if you can't "fai andare bene il nero" (accept working under the table), they'll "prendono un nero che costa pure meno" (take a black person who costs even less), revealing a bleak landscape of desperation and systemic injustice. What makes these lyrics so potent is their unflinching gaze at societal rot, refusing to offer easy answers. By shifting perspectives from a prophetic vision to specific, gritty examples of moral and economic failure, the song builds a powerful case against those who benefit from or ignore the destruction. The blunt, repeated declaration "Sono diavoli!" serves as both a condemnation and a warning, leaving the listener with a sense of urgent unease about the world depicted.