My maternal grandfather David Clark served in Italy during WW2. He was stationed on the island of Pantelleria and he used to tell me stories of his time there, but never stories about the war.
He struck a friendship with the local Italians in my hometown and he loved Nardini Ice Cream, which used to have a van that came around the various housing estates in the town.
This song was written while on a visit to Naples.
Pantelleria
© Alan G Brydon
V1
When I was a lad, I used to hear you tell your stories
Of how you went over to Italy and the things that you saw
They filled me with wonder, it sounded like such an adventure
For you told me the good things and you never spoke of the war
V2
I imagined the scene, as you boarded the boat out of Naples
Sailed by Sicily, and on towards Africa’s shores
And there you would see your home to be on the horizon
A beautiful island that suffered bombardment and more
Chorus
Pantelleria
My grandfather’s place in the sun
Pantelleria
A paradise lost till they silenced the guns
V3
When I was just two, you held me and they took our photo
Now I look at you, you seem younger than I am today
It's hard to believe, how time seems to paint a new picture
My mother was only a baby when you marched away
V4
You showed me a sketch, from the hand of a friend, once a comrade
A gun site and camp, where you and the artist had been
Now it hangs on my wall and serves as a perfect reminder
Of sharing your stories over Gusto Nardini’s ice cream