Zwei kleine Italiener was the German entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1962 in Luxembourg performed by Conny Froboess.
The song is a moderately up-tempo number in the schlager genre, with Froboess describing the plight of two workers from Italy who wish to return to their homeland to be with their girlfriends, Tina and Marina. She contrasts this situation with that of the rest of German society (at the time undergoing the Wirtschaftswunder largely as a result of immigrant labour), for whom "a journey to the South is something chic and fine". The two Italians, it seems, despair of ever returning to Naples. This unusual subject matter marks the first time that a social issue was described in a Contest entry.
The song was performed 7th on the night, following Sweden and preceding the Netherlands. At the close of voting, it finished in 6th place with 9 points. Despite its middle-of-the-table finish, the song has become a minor favourite among Contest fans and has been covered by several artists.
Lyrics[]
Eine Reise in den Süden ist für and’re schick und fein
Doch zwei kleine Italiener möchten gern zu Hause sein
Zwei kleine Italiener, die träumen von Napoli
Von Tina und Marina, die warten schon lang auf sie
Zwei kleine Italiener, die sind so allein
Eine Reise in den Süden ist für and’re schick und fein
Doch die beiden Italiener möchten gern zu Hause sein
Oh Tina, oh Marina
Wenn wir uns einmal wiederseh’n
Oh Tina, oh Marina
Dann wird es wieder schön
Zwei kleine Italiener vergessen die Heimat nie
Die Palmen und die Mädchen am Strande von Napoli
Zwei kleine Italiener, die sehen es ein
Eine Reise in den Süden ist für and’re schick und fein
Doch die beiden Italiener möchten gern zu Hause sein
Oh Tina, oh Marina
Wenn wir uns einmal wiederseh’n
Oh Tina, oh Marina
Dann wird es wieder schön
Zwei kleine Italiener am Bahnhof, da kennt man sie
Sie kommen jeden Abend zum D-Zug nach Napoli
Zwei kleine Italiener, die schau’n hinter drein
Eine Reise in den Süden ist für and’re schick und fein
Doch die beiden Italiener möchten gern zu Hause sein
Oh Tina, oh Marina
Wenn wir uns einmal wiederseh’n
Oh Tina, oh Marina
Dann wird es wieder schön
For others a journey to the South is something chic and fine
But two little Italians would rather be back home
Two little Italians, dreaming of Naples
Of Tina and Marina, who’ve been waiting for them a long time
Two little Italians, all on their own
For others a journey to the South is something chic and fine
But both Italians would rather be back home
Oh Tina, oh Marina
If we get to see each other again
Oh Tina, oh Marina
Then it will be wonderful again
Two little Italians never forget their home
The palm trees and the girls on the beach of Naples
Two little Italians, they understand
That for others, a journey to the South is something chic and fine
But both Italians would rather be back home
Oh Tina, oh Marina
If we get to see each other again
Oh Tina, oh Marina
Then it will be wonderful again
Two little Italians at the station, everyone knows them there
They come every evening for the express train to Naples
Two little Italians, looking at the train as it leaves
For others a journey to the South is something chic and fine
But both Italians would rather be back home
Oh Tina, oh Marina
If we get to see each other again
Oh Tina, oh Marina
Then it will be wonderful again
| Eurovision Song Contest 1962 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Marion Rung •  Fud Leclerc •  Victor Balaguer •  Eleonore Schwarz •  Ellen Winther •  Inger Berggren •  Conny Froboess •  De Spelbrekers •  Isabelle Aubret •  Inger Jacobsen •  Jean Philippe •  Lola Novaković •  Ronnie Carroll •  Camillo Felgen •  Claudio Villa •  François Deguelt
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Tipi-tii • Ton nom • Llámame • Nur in der Wiener Luft • Vuggevise • Sol och vår • Zwei kleine Italiener • Katinka • Un premier amour • Kom sol, kom regn • Le retour • Ne pali svetlo u sumrak • Ring-a-Ding Girl • Petit bonhomme • Addio, addio • Dis rien
| |||
