Italy has introduced a small but symbolically significant change to its national anthem, “Fratelli d’Italia” (Brothers of Italy), removing the final word “Sì!” (“Yes!”) that traditionally followed the patriotic line “Italy has called!”
According to Reuters, sources close to the Italian Ministry of Defense confirmed that official instructions for the change were issued in recent weeks, implementing a presidential decree published in May. The decree refers explicitly to the original version of the anthem, written in 1847 by poet Goffredo Mameli, prior to Italy’s unification.
Restoring the Original Text
The change was first reported by the Italian daily Il Fatto Quotidiano and later confirmed by sources within both the Presidency and the Ministry of Defense.
The office of President Sergio Mattarella emphasized that the decision has no political motivation, stressing instead that it aims to preserve the authenticity of the original lyrics.
“The intent is to respect the historical integrity of the anthem’s original text,” sources said, dismissing speculation about ideological or political implications.
Lyrics vs. Musical Score
Although the word “Sì” does not appear in Mameli’s original poem, it was included in the musical score composed by Michele Novaro in the same year. Over time, the addition became customary in performances, despite not being part of the original written lyrics.
Both the original text and the original musical score are now officially published on the Italian government’s website, reflecting the effort to align modern usage with historical sources.
