What is the meaning of Bella Ciao?

Bella Ciao (literally ‘Goodbye Beautiful’) is an Italian folk song symbolic of resistance, freedom and rebellion. In its present form it is often associated with partisan Italian anti-fascist fighters during World War 2, even though its origins are much older, probably stemming from protest songs sung by women working in the rice fields of northern Italy in the late 19th century. Its later use in wider culture, especially in the 2017-18 Spanish series 'Money Heist' made it phenomenally popular, making our 25+ versions of it here on 8notes amongst our most sought-after sheet music.

Origins

The first versions of the song were likely sung by ‘modine’ (from the Italian word ‘modare’, to weed), women who worked at weeding the rice paddy fields of northern Italy. This back-breaking work led to a spirit of rebelliousness against both the poor conditions and the supervising padroni, and consequently to a tradition of singing work songs which captured some of this feeling. Apart from ‘Bella Ciao’ these songs included ‘Sciur padrun da li beli braghi bianchi’ (’Sir master with the beautiful white pants’) and ‘Se otto ore vi sembran poche' [’If eight hours seem too few to you’).

Bella Ciao with original modine lyrics:

Not a Partisan Song After All?

Many have since doubted the extent to which the song was actually used by the anti-fascist fighters in World War 2, one member of the fascist resistance, Luigi Morrone, later remarking that ‘In the twenty months of the partisan war I have never heard people sing "Bella ciao.”' Documentary evidence to support its use is also scant. Instead, the modern song appears to have been published in the 50s, the spirit of resistance embodied within it becoming associated with the struggle in hindsight.

The Song

The song lyrics express anger and defiance against the tyranny of occupation, the opening stanza describing the moment that the invader arrives:

One morning I awakened,
Oh bella ciao, bella ciao, bella ciao, ciao, ciao!
One morning I awakened
And I found the invader.

There then follows the joining of the partisan struggle (‘Oh partisan carry me away’) and the contemplation of the death as part of the cause:

Bury me up in the mountain
Under the shade of a beautiful flower.


And, ultimately, the beauty of dying for that cause:

And all those who shall pass
Will tell me "what a beautiful flower.”

The continued repetition of the phrase ‘Bella ciao’ throughout the song gives a sense of the emotional and physical struggle of resistance.

Adaptations

The song has long-since transcended its historical context, becoming a more universal song of protest and resistance. Its adaptions into other languages are numerous, some of the most overtly political of these including those by Kurdish music band Koma Dengê Azadî, which was revived during the ISIS attack on Kobane 2014; A German Workers Song version by Liedermacher Hannes Wader in 1977; a recording by Thai anti-fascist band Faiyen, which has been used by the Red Shirts anti-fascism group; and ‘Rebella Ciao’ a 2019 version by climate action group Extinction Rebellion.

Popular Culture

The song was used a number of times in the Spanish series ‘Money Heist’, which became a global hit through its release on Netflix. It is associated with the character of the Professor, who we are told lives by the idea of resistance, and was taught the song by his grandfather, who was an Italian partisan:

There have been been many other uses of the song in film, including in ‘L’Immortel’ (2019), ’The Two Popes’ (2019), and ‘There is No Evil’ (2020). It was also used in the 2021 video game ‘Far Cry 6’ and has become associated with sports, being used as an anthem by the Portland Timbers Army American soccer club, and by various football teams to taunt rivals.

Sung on the balconies of housing complexes, the song also became emblematic of the 2020 European Covid lockdowns: