Man from Risorgimento

He seems as a man from Risorgimento,
or that guy from A Certain Ratio.
You can think of him wearing a frock coat,
Captain Achab on his whaleboat.
Well, so passionate, gentle and tall,
he drives his comrades towards the fall.
I asked my wife: — «Tell me ‘bout him»
— «He's so cheerful, he seems to swim.»
In the water he shines, veers off and fades.
Give me more beautiful losers,
give me Hector or Raymond Poulidor.
He’s a beautiful loser,
I’ll be his comrade, forevermore.