Written by Domenico Modugno (music and lyrics) and Franco Migliacci (lyrics), "Nel blu dipinto di blu" was presented by Domenico Modugno and Johnny Dorelli at the 1958 Sanremo Music Festival, winning the contest and achieving instant popularity. It was then chosen to represent Italy at the 1958 Eurovision Song Contest, where it came third.

The song is a ballad in a dramatic chanson style, in which Modugno describes the feeling he has, which resembles flying when with his lover. The song opens with a surreal prelude which the cover versions often left out: "Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più. Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu; poi d'improvviso venivo dal vento rapito, e [bad word] a volare nel cielo infinito." ("I think that a dream like that will never return; I painted my hands and my face blue, then was suddenly swept up by the wind and started to fly in the infinite sky.")
The English lyrics were written by Mitchell Parish. Alternative English lyrics were written in 1958 by Dame Gracie Fields, and they were used in most concerts she performed in from then until her death in 1979. She often changed the words to suit her performance and age.

VOLARE (Italian Lyrics)
 Penso che un sogno così non ritorni mai più.
 Mi dipingevo le mani e la faccia di blu.
 Poi d’improvviso venivo dal vento rapito
 [bad word] a volare nel cielo infinito. 

 Volare, Oh!, Oh!, 
 Cantare, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
 Nel blu, dipinto di blu,
 Felice de stare lassù. 

 volavo, volavo, felice
 Più in alto del sole ed ancora più in su.
 Mentre il mondo pian’ piano 
 Spariva lontano laggiù,
 Una musica dolce suonava
 Soltanto per me. 

 Volare, Oh!, Oh!, 
 Cantare, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
 Nel blu, dipinto di blu,
 Felice de stare lassù. 

 Ma tutti sogni nell’alba svaniscon perché
 Quando la luna tramonta li porta con sé,
 Ma io continuo a sognare 
 Negli occhi tuoi belli, che sono blu 
 [bad word] un cielo trapunto di stelle. 

 Volare, Oh!, Oh!, 
 Cantare, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
 Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu,
 Felice de stare quaggiù. 

 continuo a volare, felice
 Più in alto del sole ed ancora più in su.
 Mentre il mondo pian’ piano
 [bad word] negli occhi tuoi blu,
 La tua voce e una musica dolce 
 Che suona per me. 

 Volare, Oh!, Oh!, 
 Cantare, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
 Nel blu degli occhi tuoi blu,
 Felice de stare quaggiù. 

 VOLARE (English Translation) 

 I think that a dream almost never returns:
 I was painting my hands and my face blue.
 Then suddenly I [bad word]  carried off by the wind,
 And I was beginning to fly into the endless sky. 

 To fly, Oh!, Oh!,
 To sing, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
 In the blue, painted blue,
 Happy to be up there. 

 And I flew and flew happily to the heights of the Sun
 And higher and higher into the sky.
 While the world slowly, slowly
 Disappeared in the distance down there.
 Sweet music sounded 
 For me alone. 

 To fly, Oh!, Oh!,
 To sing, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
 In the blue, painted blue,
 Happy to be there. 

 But all the dreams vanish at dawn because
 When it sets, the Moon takes them along,
 But I continue dreaming in your beautiful eyes
 That are blue like a sky dotted with stars. 

 To fly, Oh!, Oh!,
 To sing, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
 In the blue of your blue eyes
 Happy to be there. 

 But I continue to fly happily to the heights of the Sun
 And higher and higher into the sky.
 While the world slowly, slowly
 Disappears in your blue eyes,
 Your voice is sweet music
 That sounds for me. 

 To fly, Oh!, Oh!,
 To sing, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!, Oh!
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