Song copyright if song is translated

Sorry if there is already a thread for this, but I couldn't locate it. The Search Box doesn't like me.

So here's my question: my novel deals with pop musicians. I want to cite a line or two from a song. I know this is a no-no without getting the right permissions etc. However, the song I want to quote isn't in English; it's in Italian, and I've done my own translation of the lyrics.

Can I safely include this translation in my novel, or are the words of the original writer protected regardless of language (original versus translation)? If the general opinion is that I cannot, I can morph my translation easily enough to make it an indirect translation of the original Italian-lyric idea. But I'd rather use my own than a "cheat."

I've posted this in another group-feed and the membership came up blank.

Help? Or please move post to the proper forum. Please note: I am not asking for legal advice per se, but trying to find out the scope of what a lyricist's copyrights do and do not cover.

Thanks.

Thanks. I didn't want to go that route but it might be safer and better all 'round to improvise with the same general idea as the original lyric.

I've done so, many times. I simply wanted to know if it was safe to use my own translation.

Thanks all who weighed in on this. Working as we speak on my own lyrics that say something vaguely similar. Buona fortuna!