Poppa Piccolino

"Poppa Piccolino" was a song recorded by Diana Decker which reached number 2 on the UK singles chart in December 1953. It was the only UK hit single for this British-based American-born singer and actress. It was later also recorded by Petula Clark, Mantovani and David Whitfield.
The original 1952 Italian lyrics had the title "Papaveri e papere" and were written by Mario Panzeri and Giuseppe Rastelli with music by Vittorio Mascheroni. The cheerful lyrics hide a political satire about inequalities between rich and poor. The song was an Italian hit for singer Nilla Pizzi, who came in second place with it at the Sanremo [Music Festival 1952]. It went on to be a worldwide hit, has been translated into forty languages, and inspired the title of a movie with Walter Chiari.
English lyrics were by Bob Musel and the song was published by Chappell's of London. The lyrics lose the original meaning, changing the piece into a song about a wandering musician. They tell the story of a much loved Italian concertina-playing vagabond who wanders from town to town with a monkey who collects money from the audience. One day he loses his concertina and becomes very sad. His little monkey finds it and joy is restored to all.