Ava Della Pietra’s Moon Over Capri: A Heartbreaking Tribute to Dreams Deferred

Broadway veteran Ava Della Pietra delivers her most vulnerable work yet with Moon Over Capri, a tender ballad honouring her late grandfather’s unfulfilled dream of returning to Italy.

Currently balancing her music career with studies at Harvard University’s prestigious joint program with Berklee College of Music, Della Pietra brings academic rigor to her creative process.

Her new song serves as both memorial and musical journey, carrying his spirit across the ocean he never crossed again.

“‘Moon Over Capri’ is about my grandpa who passed away earlier this year,” Ava says about her new single.

“He was born in Italy, and he was a kind, selfless man who made many sacrifices for the people he loved. As traveling became harder, especially later in life, he never stopped dreaming of going back to Italy one last time. This song is my way of taking him there.”

The track reveals Della Pietra’s emotional range beyond her previous theatrical pop releases like Marionette and Reindeer Rebellion.

Where those songs showcased her versatility across genres, Moon Over Capri strips away theatrical flourishes for raw intimacy.

Her cut glass vocals float over gentle instrumentation, creating space for the song’s deeply personal narrative about sacrifice, family bonds, and dreams deferred.

What makes this ballad particularly compelling is its conversational approach to loss.

Rather than dwelling in melancholy, Della Pietra adopts the voice of an encouraging “neighbor”, creating urgency around seizing life’s opportunities.

The repeated refrain “You say life’s too short / But what about yours / There’s still more to see” captures the painful irony of unfulfilled dreams while offering hope to those still able to chase them.

The imagery throughout paints vivid pictures of Italian experiences her grandfather never claimed.

Lines like “Swear I could almost taste the wine / From your description of Italy” and references to limoncello waiting in the sun reveal how vividly he shared his homeland memories, making his absence more poignant.

The promise “You’ll be where you’re meant to be / When you’re under the moon over Capri” becomes both destination and benediction.

The song’s structure mirrors its emotional arc, beginning with gentle check-ins before building toward acceptance.

The heartbreaking shift from “Hey neighbor / How you doing today?” to the final verse’s past tense acknowledgment creates devastating emotional impact.

“Filled up your answering machine / Just to hear you say you’re sorry that you’re missing me / And you’ll call me back / But you can’t do that” captures the specific grief of losing someone whose voice you desperately want to hear again.

For anyone who has watched dreams slip away from someone they love, these lyrics will resonate with particular force.

The song becomes both a lament for opportunities lost and an urgent reminder to embrace life fully while we can.

Ava Della Pietra Moon Over Capri Lyrics

Hey neighbor How you doing today?
Are you living your dream or is life in the way again
neighbor
I just wanna check in I heard that you’ve been going through it
Maybe you need a friend that you can talk to
Let me be that for you

Hey neighbor
If you’re feeling alone
You know the hour doesn’t matter and we both have a phone

Hey neighbor
You used to talk ‘bout a trip
Swear I could almost taste the wine
From your description of Italy

We both know
It’s now or never so get up and go

I’ll come and pack all night
Book a flight
Help you find your keys
You say life’s too short
But what about yours
There’s still more to see
You’ll be where you’re meant to be
When you’re under the moon over Capri

Ahhhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh
Ahhhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh

Hey neighbor
The limoncello is waiting
Bet a couple in the sun would make for good conversation

Hey neighbor I know you got people there
And you could be there by tomorrow dancing like Fred Astaire

Yeah we both know
It’s now or never so get up and go

I’ll come and pack all night
Book a flight
Help you find your keys
You say life’s too short
But what about yours
There’s still more to see
You’ll be where you’re meant to be
When you’re under the moon over Capri

Ahhhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh
Ahhhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh
Ahhhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh
Ahhhhh Ahhhh Ahhhh

Hey neighbor
Filled up your answering machine
Just to hear you say you’re sorry that you’re missing me
And you’ll call me back
But you can’t do that
I packed all night
Booked a flight
I’ve still got a key
You said life’s too short
Here’s to yours
You can count on me
You’ll be where you’re meant to be
Right there under the moon over Capri