The song is characterized by its use of the , which often conveys a deeper sense of earthiness and raw emotion than standard Italian. The image of the virrinedda is a powerful Sicilian trope for persistent, painful thought or "heartworm"—the way an obsession or a person stays in your mind, slowly drilling into your spirit.

Below is a draft of the full text in Sicilian with an English translation. Sicilian Lyrics English Translation Lu cori m'havi fattu a virrinedda, My heart has become a little drill, ca m'u traforu comu 'na cannola. boring through me like a hollow reed. Amuri, amuri, amuri chi si' bedda, Love, love, love how beautiful you are, di tia mi 'nnamurai di quannu a scola. I’ve been in love with you since school. O bedda ca ti rissi la to mamma, Oh beauty, what did your mother tell you, ca nun mi rari cchiù 'na 'nguaggiatura? to give me no more hope of marriage? Ti l’ha scuiddatu ca lu focu 'nfiammu, Have you forgotten that the fire is burning, e s'adduma di notti e d'ogni ura. and blazes at night and at every hour? Passu di cca e la sgrilla mi vampa, I pass by here and the spark flares up, viru 'na bedda chi mi fa muriri. I see a beauty who makes me die. S'idda nun m'ama, la me vita scampa, If she doesn’t love me, my life will end, sulu lu chiantu mi po’ fari campari. only weeping can keep me alive. Cultural Context

It is famously performed by Sicilian folk artists like , whose deep, rasping voice became the definitive sound of these traditional "soul songs."

"" is a traditional Sicilian folk song, often performed as a lullaby ( ninnaranna ) or a melancholic song of love and labor. The title refers to a "small drill" or "auger" ( verrina in Sicilian), metaphorically boring into the heart or representing the repetitive, piercing nature of longing.