Core 'ngrato (Ungrateful Heart), is the only well-known standard Neapolitan song to have been written in America and is said to have been written for the world-famous tenor Enrico Caruso who performed it regularly.

Lyrics

Catari, Catari, pecche me dice sti parole amare,
pecche me parle e 'o core me turmiente, Catari?
Nun te scurda ca t'aggio date 'o core, Catari,
nun te scurda!

Catari, Catari, che vene a dicere stu parla ca me da spaseme?
Tu nun'nce pienze a stu dulore mio,
tu nun'nce pienze, tu nun te ne cure.

Core, core, 'ngrato,
t'aie pigliato 'a vita mia,
tutt'e passato e
nun'nce pienze chiu!

Catari, Catari...
tu nun `o ssaje ca
fino e `int`a na chiesa
io so' trasuto e aggiu pregato a Dio,
Catari.
E ll`aggio ditto pure a `o cunfessore:
sto'a suffri pe` chella lla...
sto'a suffri,
sto'a suffri nun se p? credere...
sto'a suffri tutte li strazie!`
E `o cunfessore,ch'e perzona santa,
mm`ha ditto: `Figliu mio
lassala sta!...

Caterina, Caterina, why do you say those bitter words?
Why do you speak and torment my heart, Caterina?
Don't forget, I gave you my heart, Caterina,
don't forget.

Caterina, Caterina, why do you come and say those words that hurt me so much?
You don't think of my pain,
you don't think, you don't care.

Ungrateful heart,
you have stolen my life.
Everything is finished
and you don't care any more!

Catarí', Catarí'
you do not know that even in church
I bring my prayers to God, Catari.
And I recount my confession to the priest: "I am suffering
from such a great love."

I'm suffering,
I'm suffering from not knowing your love,
I'm suffering a sorrow that tortures my soul.
And I confess, that the Holy Mother
spoke to me: "My son, let it be, let it be."