Giovinezza (graduation song)

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"Il commiato" ('The farewell'), known by its refrain as "Giovinezza" ('Youth') is an Italian song that is part of the repertoire of goliardic hymns of Italian universities. In vogue in the early twentieth century, the extemporaneous work of Nino Oxilia, who composed its verses out of the blue on a convivial occasion in 1909. Oxilia's text was set to music by Giuseppe Blanc.

Originally widespread among students at the University of Turin, the goliardic song celebrated the end of studies and the impending assumption of adult responsibilities, resulting in the fading of the sweetness of youth (in Italian: Giovinezza).

Originating as a nostalgic student song centered on the theme of the melancholy epilogue of carefree university life, it suffered an unforeseen fate over time, as it was adopted in various contexts that overwhelmed its original goliardic imprint. First adapted in a military context, then in a political and social one, it eventually ended up becoming the fascist Giovinezza, the anthem of the National Fascist Party.^[1]