O tu, Palermo, terra adorata,
Oh you, Palermo, land adorned,

a me sì caro, riso d'amor, ah!
To me so dear, smile of love, ah!

alza la fronte tanto oltraggiata,
raise your brow so much offended,

il tuo ripiglia primier splendor!
Regain your former splendor!

Chiesi aita a straniere nazioni,
I asked for help from foreign nations,

ramingai per castella e città;
I wandered through castles and cities;

ma insensibil al fervido sprone dicea ciascun:
but indifferent to my fervent call to action said everyone:

Siciliani, ov'è il prisco valor?
Sicilians, where is the old courage?

Su, sorgete a vittoria, all'onor!
Come, rise to victory, to honor!

O tu Palermo, etc. 

il tuo ripiglia almo splendor!
Regain your life-sustaining splendor!

Torna al primiero almo splendor!
Return to your former life-sustaining splendor!