Leo Chiosso (b. Turin, 8 August 1920 – d. Chieri, Italy, 26 November 2006) was an Italian lyricist mostly known for his work with Fred Buscaglione. They formed a songwriting duo who produced about forty songs and created Buscaglione's public persona, a humorous tough guy with a penchant for whisky and women.
Chiosso and Buscaglione met in 1938 in the night-club scene of Turin, hometown to both of them. At that time, Chiosso was a university student, while Buscaglione eked out a living as a jazz singer and musician in those clubs.
Their friendship was abruptly interrupted by World War II. Chiosso was deported to Poland, while Buscaglione ended up in a US internment camp in Sardinia. Chiosso had news about his friend's fate thanks to the radio - Buscaglione had joined the allied radio station orchestra in Cagliari, and Chiosso knew he was still alive when he heard him playing.
Chiosso and Buscaglione reunited in Turin after the end of the war, and started writing songs together. Chiosso's lyrics were inspired by the American crime fiction he was an avid reader of, as well as by current news. They were humorous stories about gangsters and their babes, New York and Chicago, tough men who were ruthless with enemies but easily fell victims to a woman's charms. They fitted perfectly with the image of amiable braggart Buscaglione was creating for himself.
I've had some idea
Some things would work out.
I guess things have worked out,
At least so far.
Time moves by,
Just been waiting
Or more like waiting
News I thought far.
Something isn't right,
It just don't make sense.
Nothing feels for real,
I'm tired of past tense.
Yesterday feels like a year,
And it looks like I'm still standing here.
I hope I don't sound insincere at all.
What are you taking me for?
Don't you know by now?
I've been playing.
The things you've been saying
Don't get me down.
Something isn't right,
It's all just pretense.
Nothing feels for real,
I'm tired of past tense.
Yesterday feels like a year,
And it looks like I'm still standing here.
I hope I don't sound insincere at all.
Don't you know about what I've been trying since my birth?
You think that your dollar signs can make me what I'm worth.
Yesterday feels like a year,
And it looks like I'm still standing here.
I hope I don't sound insincere at all.
Yesterday feels like a year,
And I'm glad that I'm still standing here.