Quella che non sei
Luciano Ligabue
This Italian song is a heartfelt tribute to those navigating challenging times. It captures the essence of a pivotal moment where one can transform past struggles into opportunities for growth and change, empowering them to embrace their own well-being and responsibilities.
I’ve seen you before, you were in the middle of all your excuses
Io ti ho vista già, eri in mezzo a tutte le tue scuse
Without knowing why
Senza saper per cosa
You were among those who tell you ‘choose: either a slut or a wife’
Eri in mezzo a chi ti dice “scegli: o troia o sposa”
I saw you ashamed of your mother
Ti ho vista vergognarti di tua madre
Breaking your last name
Fare a pezzi il tuo cognome
Always without causing a disturbance, you never know
Sempre senza disturbare, che non si sa mai
The one you’re not
Quella che non sei
The one you’re not, you’re not
Quella che non sei, non sei
But I’m here, and if that’s enough for you
Ma io sono qua, e se ti basterà
The one you’re not, you won’t be
Quella che non sei, non sarai
It’s enough for me
A me basterà
There’s a place inside you that you keep off
C’è un posto dentro te che tieni spento
It’s the place where no one ever reaches
È il posto in cui nessuno arriva mai
The one you’re not
Quella che non sei
I saw you hiding behind too much mascara
Ti ho vista stare dietro a troppo rimmel
Behind another hairstyle
Dietro un’altra acconciatura
You were behind a fear that never leaves
Eri dietro una paura che non lasci mai
The one you’re not
Quella che non sei
The one you’re not, you’re not
Quella che non sei, non sei
But I’m here, and if that’s enough for you
Ma io sono qua, e se ti basterà
The one you’re not, you won’t be
Quella che non sei, non sarai
It’s enough for me
A me basterà
There’s a place inside you where it’s cold
C’è un posto dentro te in cui fa freddo
It’s the place where no one has ever entered
È il posto in cui nessuno è entrato mai
The song is meant to be an invitation to be yourself and not hide behind appearances. It is also a clear reference to anorexia.
In the first four verses Ligabue explains about the girl who keeps quiet instead of making her point.
The mirror mentioned in verse 5 represents the girl looking back when she was young but realizing that one cannot turn back time.
The refrain is an urging to be oneself, that those who truly love a person must love them as they are, with their merits and flaws.
Ligabue’s choice of terms in the middle part of the song is curious, when he says “Choose: either WHORE or bride.”
A fine difference, bluntly expressed by Ligabue, because the judgment of others has no middle ground: either you are married, or you risk being misinterpreted, negatively.
Discover yourself 
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