Bella Ciao is a song of the Italian resistance against fascism, then embraced by communism.

The melody likely comes from late 19th–early 20th century Italian folk songs, especially those sung by mondine, the women who worked in the rice paddies of northern Italy. These songs often lamented harsh working conditions and were expressions of social protest.

During World War II, Italian partisans (resistance fighters) adapted the song as an anthem of the anti-fascist struggle against Mussolini’s regime and Nazi occupation. This is the version most people recognize today, with lyrics about fighting for freedom and dying for the cause of liberation.

After the war, “Bella Ciao” became a symbol of resistance and protest worldwide, adopted in different contexts, from labor movements to political demonstrations. Its meaning shifted depending on who sang it, but the core idea of resistance remained.

Definitely not a right wing song anyway.