Il Ponte
The Bridge

Ho visto il ponte
E il ponte è lungo
L’hanno costruito alto
L’hanno costruito forte
Forte abbastanza per resistere
Al peso del tempo
E lungo abbastanza per lasciare
Alcuni di noi indietro

E ognuno di noi
Deve affrontare quel giorno
Riuscirai a superare il ponte?
O scomparirai
E ognuno di noi
Che è mai venuto a suonare
Deve passare il ponte
O scomparire

Stando in piedi sul ponte
A guardare le onde
Ne ho visti tanti buttarsi giù
Mai nessuno salvarsi
In una spiaggia lontana
La tua canzone può morire
In un vento amaro
In un flusso crudele

E ognuno di noi
Deve affrontare quel giorno
Riuscirai a superare il ponte?
O scomparirai
E ognuno di noi
Che è mai venuto a suonare
Deve passare il ponte
O scomparire

E il ponte brilla
Metallo freddo e duro
Dicendo vieni e rischia tutto
O muori tentandoci

E ognuno di noi
Deve affrontare quel giorno
Riuscirai a superare il ponte?
O scomparirai
E ognuno di noi
Che è mai venuto a suonare
Deve passare il ponte
O scomparire
 

 I've seen the bridge 
And the bridge is long
And they built it high 
And they built it strong
Strong enough to hold 
The weight of time
Long enough to leave 
Some of us behind

And every one of us 
Has to face that day
Do you cross the bridge 
Or do you fade away?
And every one of us 
That ever came to play
Has to cross the bridge 
Or fade away

Standing on the bridge 
Looking at the waves
Seen so many jump, 
Never seen one saved
On a distant beach 
Your song can die
On a bitter wind, 
On a cruel tide

And every one of us 
Has to face that day
Do you cross the bridge 
Or do you fade away?
And every one of us 
That ever came to play
Has to cross the bridge
Or fade away

And the bridge it shines
Oh cold hard iron
Saying come and risk it all
Or die trying

And every one of us 
Has to face that day
Do you cross the bridge 
Or do you fade away?
And every one of us 
That ever came to play
Has to cross the bridge
Or fade away

testo di Bernie Taupin    (da The Captain & The Kid, 2006)

© 2006 HST Management Ltd./Rouge Booze, Inc.

Traduzione di Alvin Tostig

da top40.about.com

30+ years ago in the early and mid-1970's, Elton John and Bernie Taupin composed emotional songs about difficult relationships, drugs, parties, and fantasies of cowboys and American culture. For 2 men thrust into the world of pop superstars in their early and mid 20's, these would seem understandable topics of concern. Now, as both men are approaching the age of 60, the topic is of a more eternal, transcendent nature. "Do you cross the bridge or do you fade away?"
The philosophical musings in "The Bridge" are set in a simple, stripped-down proudction focused on Elton John and his solo piano. When compared with his classic work of the 70's, Elton has acquired an intentionally more dramatic style of vocalizing which can come off as somewhat of an affectation in such a simple song as this. At their best, the inherent lyrical and musical drama of a John-Taupin classic song eliminates any need for dressing up the vocals.
This is a relatively minor quibble, however, as "The Bridge" is one of Elton John's finest songs in many years. Frequently, the lyrics and music both soar leading the target listeners, fans who have aged alongside Elton John and Bernie Taupin, to moments of reflection and consideration of the next steps ahead. John and Taupin are pulled, in the end, by a muse saying "Come risk it all or die trying."

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