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A post shared by Marie Crean (@marie_antoinette57) on Jun 26, 2018 at 1:56pm PDT

Truth be told, there are not very many songs about Malta or in the Maltese language. Yet every main mode of transport has earned its place as the main focus of a song here on the island. 

Bus

The Malta Bus Song by Iain Richmond is a wonderful funky song telling the story of catching a bus in Malta at a time when the classic Maltese buses still roamed the streets and a fare was "2 cents, 3 cents, 10 cents takes you anywhere".

Taxi

This folklore song Taxi Mary rendition by Joe Demicoli and Bamboccu is a wonderful ode to Maltese folk music. The actual song starts at 1:15 in this video, after a little banter, and is sung in the spontaneous spirtu pront whereby lyrics are made up more or less on the spot despite the song being a rather popular one.

Horse-drawn carriage

Ceklem Ceklem Karozzin by The Greenfields is an all time favourite, well known by all Maltese people, young and old. Again, the song tells the story of the experience of taking the horse-drawn carriage, describing the scene as it travels through the winding roads of Maltese towns and villages.

Sliema-Valletta Ferry

Lanca Gejja u Ohra Sejra interpreted here by Freddie Portelli is a well-known folk song of unknown origins. Absolutely everyone born in Malta will know this one. Starting here at 1:04, the way the crowd sings along makes it clear that this song is a party favourite, telling the story of an old captain who passes out half way through the journey across Marsamxett Harbour.

Gozo Ferry

Id-Dgħajsa tal-Latini by Sammy Bartolo brings tears to the eyes of any Maltese person who feels a great nostalgia when reminiscing memories of Malta of old. The vivid imagery and heart-warming poetry is typical of any Sammy song. This one tells of the days when the Gozo ferry was a sail boat "bringing two islands together as one heart". Oh dear, where's the handkerchief?

Which of these songs pulls on your heart strings?