This book traces a chronological cultural interpretation of the last two centuries of Italian history (1797-1997), as articulated through Italian music. Each song is set against its historical context in an effort to make it more understandable and enjoyable. The chapters undertake an ambitious endeavor to reconstruct the kaleidoscopic tapestry of Italian musical milieu. In its harmonious fabric, one can discern the echoes of diverse voices, from matter-of-factly housewives to rough soldiers, from erudite intellectuals to toiling factory workers, from devout priests to fervent anarchists. In this pursuit, the focal point shall shift away from the big names of those who bask in the limelight, and instead turn its gaze toward the shadows, finding the unsung heroes and the sidekicks, the supporting cast, the Manzonian crowd. The majority of the singers in this book are marginal individuals, those who had nothing else but music, their voices or their accordion, to vent their anger and their frustration as the winds of History swept past them.