Bella Ciao Anthem

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Lore & Background

The origins of the song are unclear, although one hypothesis is that "Bella ciao" was originally sung as "Alla mattina appena alzata" by seasonal workers of paddy fields of rice, especially in Italy's Po Valley from the late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century, with different lyrics. These women, known as mondine, worked barefoot in water up to their knees, their backs bent continuously. Poor working conditions, excessive hours and low pay led to constant dissatisfaction and occasional riots in the early 20th century. The earliest written version is dated to 1906 and comes from near Vercelli, Piedmont. There are no indications of the relevance of "Bella ciao" among the partisan brigades, nor of the very existence of the 'partisan version' prior to the first publication of the text in 1953. The 1963 version of Yves Montand shot to fame after the group Il Nuovo Canzoniere Italiano presented it at the 1964 Festival dei Due Mondi at Spoleto both as a song of the mondine and as a partisan hymn. Historians of Italian music, including Antonio Virgilio Savona and Michele Straniero, agree "Bella ciao" was not sung or only rarely sung during the partisan war and became popular only after WW2 ended.

In Their Own Story

The text as sung today was first published in 1953 in the magazine La Lapa, and then in L'Unità in 1957. A possible origin of the melody was identified by researcher Fausto Giovannardi, following the discovery of a Yiddish melody (Koilen song) recorded by a Russian Klezmer accordionist, Mishka Ziganoff, in 1919 in New York. According to the scholar Rod Hamilton of The British Library in London, "Koilen" is a version of "Dus Zekele Koilen" (The bag of coal), of which there are various versions dating back to the 1920s. Italian folksinger Giovanna Daffini recorded the song in 1962, and her recording appears in her 1975 album Amore mio non piangere. Many artists have recorded the song, including Herbert Pagani, Mary Hopkin, Sandie Shaw, Goran Bregovic and Manu Chao. The Chinese version of the song featured in the Chinese translation of the Yugoslavian film The Bridge. Azerbaijani Soviet singer Muslim Magomayev performed the song at some of his concerts and he stated that it was Brezhnev's favorite by him.

Reader's Guide

"Bella ciao" anchors the series' central theme: the romanticization of rebellion against systemic oppression. The choice of this specific song connects the fictional heist to real-world history, specifically the Italian partisan movement during World War II. By using an anti-fascist anthem, the narrative frames the robbers not as common criminals, but as modern-day partisans fighting a war against economic inequality and state overreach. The recurring motif highlights the philosophical debate between means and ends. While the characters break laws, the song elevates their struggle to a moral crusade. It suggests that true justice sometimes requires breaking the rules of an unjust system. The anthem acts as a bridge between the personal sacrifices of the individuals and the collective hope for societal change. Ultimately, the symbolism reinforces the idea that identity is fluid. Through the song, the robbers shed their criminal labels to embrace the role of liberators. It reminds viewers that history is often written by those who dare to challenge the status quo, turning a simple melody into a powerful declaration of human dignity.

Did You Know?

• The earliest written version of the song's antecedent is dated to 1906 and comes from near Vercelli, Piedmont.
• The text as sung today was first published in 1953 in the magazine La Lapa, and then in L'Unità in 1957.
• A possible origin of the melody was a Yiddish song called 'Koilen' recorded by Russian Klezmer accordionist Mishka Ziganoff in 1919 in New York.
• The 1963 version by Yves Montand became famous after it was presented at the 1964 Festival dei Due Mondi at Spoleto.
• Azerbaijani Soviet singer Muslim Magomayev stated that 'Bella ciao' was Brezhnev's favorite song by him.