Essere o umano (“To be human”) takes its starting point from a line by Mark Twain:
“Heaven is by favor; if it were by merit your dog would go in and you would stay out.”
With gentle irony and affection, the song reflects on what we call “humanity” — often complicated, self-important, and full of contradictions — when placed next to the quiet honesty of an animal.
Told from a dog’s point of view, the lyrics speak with tenderness and disarming clarity. The dog lives entirely in the present, without ambition, ownership, or justification. He does not claim virtue — he simply practices it. Loyalty, dignity, care, and attention come naturally to him, while humans too often forget them.
Humorous and touching at the same time, Essere o umano invites us to listen differently: less to our certainties, more to instinct, responsibility, and presence. Perhaps being human is not about knowing more — but about remembering what truly matters.
So listen closely… and see what your dog might have to say to you.