DAMME ’NA MANO (Sanremo 2025) Lyrics – Tony Effe

DAMME ’NA MANO (Sanremo 2025) Lyrics Meaning

[Intro]
The singer starts by saying he doesn’t pretend to be fine—he’s not an actor. He’s ready to make mistakes, but in a way that still holds some honor. He compares ending their relationship to putting out a cigarette, something fleeting and temporary. Despite this, the nights in Rome feel endless, filled with memories of their time together.

[Strofa 1]
He warns her not to act foolish because he knows she’s never completely honest. She’s dangerous, someone who will give in to temptation. He wonders what the late Italian singer Franco Califano, known for his romantic and dramatic songs, would say about their short-lived love. He keeps walking on the cobbled streets of Rome, searching for her, unable to let go.

[Pre-ritornello]
He asks for her help because his heart is heavy. The only things that matter to him are love and music. Even if the whole world collapses, the only thing he remembers, the only thing that truly stays with him, is her.

[Ritornello]
He desperately asks for her hand, feeling like he won’t survive without her. She’s the only one in his heart, the only thing that matters.

[Strofa 2]
He talks about his love for her, promising a lifetime together, even crossing his fingers as a sign of sincerity. He describes himself as a typical Italian man, deeply attached to his mother, Annarita. But at the same time, he prioritizes football over their relationship, leaving her alone on Sundays for the match. She waits for him in bed, frustrated and distant, but their passion still brings them together. He describes their intimacy, how she takes off her heels and ties up her hair, showing how their physical bond remains strong despite their emotional struggles. However, their love is toxic—she hurts him, even physically, then apologizes. He knows he’ll lose this game because, like in cards, she’s good at cheating, always staying one step ahead.

[Pre-ritornello]
Again, he calls out for her, feeling lost and overwhelmed. Even if everything around them falls apart, the only thing he remembers, the only thing that matters, is her.

[Ritornello]
Once more, he pleads for her hand, feeling like he will die without her. She’s the only thing in his heart, his only true love.

[Outro]
By the end, he admits he has suffered for her but has now learned to act, to hide his pain. He’s made mistakes, trying to be honorable, but he still can’t escape his memories. Lighting a cigarette, he reflects on their story, lost in thought while wandering through the streets of Rome, just like before.