Folk Songs Ta Pum, Ta Pum Italian World War I song Ta Pum is an Italian World War I song about the Battle of Mt. Ortigara. In June of 1917 the Austrians and Italians engaged in ferocious combat over the strategic summit of Mt. Ortigara. Here the soldiers reflect on the peril of mountain combat, the homes they have left behind and the graves of their fallen brethren. The Austrian M95 rifles were famous for the sound they made just before the bullet struck, giving the two-note sound of "tat-pum"; the rifle crack and the strike of the bullet. Many who fell in this battle were unable to be buried until years later . Ta Pum was composed by the Alpini regiments in the Italian armies in 1917. It is here sung by the Coro della Sat. Listen to Ta Pum Lyrics: Venti giorni sull’Ortigara, Senza il cambio per dismontàta. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Quando poi ti discendi al piano, Battaglione non hai più soldà. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Quando sei dietro a quel muretto, Soldatino non puoi più parlar. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ho lasciato la mamma mia, L'ho lasciata per fare il soldà. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Dietro il ponte, un cimitero, Cimitero di noi soldà. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Cimitero di noi soldati, Forse un giorno ti vengo a trovar. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... English translation: Twenty days on Ortigara, With no chance to dismount. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... When we descend into the plains, The battallion has no soldiers. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... When you are behind that little wall, Young soldier you can't talk anymore. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... I left my mother, To become a soldier. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Behind the bridge, there’s a graveyard, A graveyard for us soldiers. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... A graveyard for us soldiers, Maybe one day I will come find you. Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Ta pum ta pum ta pum... Folk Songs  |  Cultural  |  Home  |  Books  |  CDs  |  Search  |  Contact Us  |  Donate © 2002-   Tradition in Action, Inc.    All Rights Reserved