Certe cose si fanno

Song Meaning

Mina's "Certe cose si fanno" (Some Things You Do) unfolds as a nocturnal emission of desire, a confession whispered under the cover of darkness where the subconscious reigns. The song's meaning isn't explicitly stated, but rather evoked through dreamlike imagery and a palpable sense of transgression. It's a journey beyond the waking mind, propelled by insomnia and the moon's seductive call. The protagonist transcends the physical, flying without wings, a metaphor for the uninhibited freedom found only in the realm of fantasy. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a secret rendezvous. The sleeping town represents societal constraints, while the unnamed 'lui' (him) is the object of her desire, acutely aware of her arrival even in slumber. The act itself is described with raw, almost aggressive imagery: 'E sei dentro il suo letto/ E gli pesi sul cuore/ E lo chiami per nome/ E gli gridi l'amore' ('And you're in his bed / And you weigh on his heart / And you call him by name / And you shout your love'). The lines 'Lo cavalchi ridendo/ Sembri un'onda di mare' ('You ride him laughing / You seem like a wave of the sea') further cement this depiction. This isn't gentle romance; it's a powerful surge of female agency, a seizing of pleasure. The final verses reveal the inherent conflict. The protagonist returns to her own bed, her husband oblivious, creating a stark contrast between the wild abandon of the night and the mundane reality of her daytime existence. The urge to confess battles with the understanding that 'certe cose non le puoi raccontare' ('some things you cannot tell'). This is the crux of the song's meaning: the acknowledgment of desires that exist outside the boundaries of societal expectations and the quiet understanding that some freedoms are best experienced in the shadows, leaving Mina to wonder about the song's underlying themes.