Incassare literally means "to cash in" or "to collect" money. However, in a more figurative and particularly relevant context for this song, it means "to take" or "to absorb" a punch, especially in boxing.
In "Muhammad Ali," the phrase "Ad incassare la vita sul ring" (To take life's punches in the ring) uses this word to evoke the resilience and struggle of facing life's challenges, much like a boxer endures blows in the ring. It's a powerful metaphor that perfectly fits the song's theme of fighting through adversity, inspired by the legendary boxer Muhammad Ali.
Marco Mengoni turns the boxing ring into a mirror of daily life. In “Muhammad Ali,” he compares our ordinary ups and downs to the legendary fighter’s rounds in the ring: we take blows from doubts, wrong turns, and the face that greets us in the mirror each morning, yet we stay on our feet. Synchronizing heartbeats, missing buses, falling back in love after a storm – every small victory or setback counts as a punch or a dodge, measured in moments as fleeting as an ad break.
The chorus unifies us all under the boxer’s gloves. By chanting “Siamo tutti Muhammad Ali,” Mengoni reminds listeners that courage is universal: anyone can win or lose “in un attimo,” but the real triumph lies in standing up again, bruised yet smiling. It’s an anthem of resilience, urging you to trust your instincts, accept imperfection, and keep dancing on life’s canvas like the Greatest himself.
Marco Mengoni is an Italian singer-songwriter born on December 25, 1988, in Ronciglione, Italy. He rose to fame in 2009 after winning the third season of "X Factor Italy," and became one of Italy's most celebrated pop and soul artists in the years that followed.
Mengoni has won the Sanremo Music Festival twice, in 2013 with "L'Essenziale" and again in 2023 with "Due Vite," which also represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest. Known for his powerful, soulful voice and emotionally direct lyrics, he has released multiple platinum-certified albums and remains one of the most streamed Italian artists both at home and internationally.