O marenariello was first published in 1897. The lyrics are written by Gennaro Ottaviano (1874-1936), and the music was composed by Salvatore Gambardella (d. 1913), a composer without any formal musical education up to that point. In fact, he whistled his tunes while a musician wrote down the notes.

Giacomo Puccini, the famous opera composer, was so impressed by Gambardella's musical gift that he recommended that Gambardella study music at the conservatory. Gambardella obliged; however, the formal training seemed to inhibit Gambardella's creativity. His later compositions could never match the success of his earlier works.