Nostalgias
lyrics by Enrique Cadícamo
I want to get my heart drunk
so I can snuff out a crazy love
that more than love, is just suffering…
and I come here for this,
to erase the old kisses
with kisses from other mouths…
If her love was a one-day bloom
what’s the reason that I always feel
this cruel fixation?
I want to raise my drink to the both of us
to forget my obstinacy
and also so I remember her again…
Nostalgia
of listening to her crazy laughter
and feeling her fiery breath
so close to my mouth…
Anguish
of feeling abandoned
and thinking that at her side
another shall soon speak to her with love…
Brother!
I don’t want to debase myself
nor ask anything of her, nor cry for her,
nor tell her that I can’t live anymore…
in my sad solitude I shall see
the dead rose of my youth fall.
Bandoneón, whine out your gray tango
perhaps you too will be wounded
by some sentimental love…
my dummy’s soul weeps
alone and sad on this night,
a black night without stars…
if drinks can bring comfort
I am here with my insomnia
to drown them all at once…
I want to get my heart drunk
so that later I can raise a glass
to all the failures of love.
Yes, there are SIX versions here. Please see my note in comments.
Orquesta Francisco Lomuto, singer Jorge Omar (1936)
Quinteto Astor Piazzolla, singer Héctor de Rosas (1960)
Libertad Lamarque (1963)
Orq. Florindo Sassone, instrumental (1967)
Juanjo Domínguez & Orlando Marconi, instrumental (1998)
Plácido Domingo (2007)
(Spanish original after the jump)
Nostalgias
Quiero emborrachar mi corazón
para apagar un loco amor
que más que amor es un sufrir…
y aquí vengo para eso,
a borrar antiguos besos
en los besos de otras bocas…
Si su amor fue flor de un día
¿porqué causa es siempre mía
esa cruel preocupación?
Quiero por los dos mi copa alzar
para olvidar mi obstinación
y más la vuelvo a recordar.
Nostalgias
de escuchar su risa loca
y sentir junto a mi boca
como un fuego su respiración…
Angustia
de sentirme abandonado
y pensar que otro a su lado
pronto pronto le hablará de amor…
¡Hermano!
Yo no quiero rebajarme,
ni pedirle, ni llorarle,
ni decirle que no puedo más vivir…
desde mi triste soledad veré caer
la rosa muerta de mi juventud.
Gime, bandoneón, tu tango gris,
quizá a ti te hiera igual
algún amor sentimental…
llora mi alma de fantoche
sola y triste en esta noche,
noche negra y sin estrellas…
si las copas traen consuelo
aquí estoy con mi desvelo
para ahogarlos de una vez…
Quiero emborrachar mi corazón
para después poder brindar
por los fracasos del amor.
Poesía de gotán: The Poetry of the Tango 
“Nostalgias,” along with of course “La cumparsita” and “El Choclo,” is one of the most covered tangos of all time.
I had these six versions, so I decided to share them all so you could hear different stages in tango’s evolution/different styles of playing/some interesting covers. Here are some notes:
Lomuto/Omar—This is the only version I’d play at a milonga, and the only version I consider truly “danceable.” Actually, it’s one of my favorite dance tangos of all time. It has the classic ’30s dancing rhythm, while hinting at the lyricism to come. The italicized verses are not included in this version.
Piazzolla/Rosas—Here we hear Astor’s unique and innovative style. Notice the minimalist arrangement and the extreme rubato in Hector’s voice.
Lamarque—One of tango’s great female singers showcases her voice on this version. Notice that while the orchestration is fuller than the Piazzolla version, this is still arranged for listening rather than dancing.
Sassone—This orchestra is sometimes mistaken by untrained (and trained) ears for late Di Sarli. Strangely, this version is more “danceable” than the other two ’60s versions, though personally I would still hesitate to play it at a milonga…maybe at 5:30am during an All-Nighter.
Dominguez/Marconi—From Carlos Saura’s 1998 film “Tango: No me dejes nunca,” this showcases the talents of an Argentine guitarist and bandoneonist, respectively.
Plácido Domingo—One of the Three Tenors (along with Luciano Pavarotti and…the other guy), the Spaniard belts out a very operatic version. I must say, I prefer the less polished Argentine singers. There’s just something very “non-tango” about it…
Posted by poesiadegotan | 06.24.2009, 10:07 PMThis post is a masterpiece. Gracias.
Posted by jantango | 06.29.2009, 7:44 PMThis makes me want to read Stendahl’s treatise on love again! Love the different versions as they comprise a miniature history of the tango.
Posted by Allen Klus | 06.30.2009, 3:07 AMI love listening to the different versions of tangos, especially ones like this where there are SO many. *big smile* I’m so glad that you both enjoyed the post so much! Comments like these keep me working and posting :).
Posted by poesiadegotan | 06.30.2009, 3:17 AMHi from Greece
I like listenig defferent versions too. Thanks for this post. This site is a treasure!
Posted by diakxr | 10.30.2009, 11:25 PMHi from Melbourne, Australia; Great!, that’s what I like to listen differents versions of a Tango, anyone is ok I love it all!. I must say the version of Lomuto is by a long way the best in every way, not only for it is the first but is tango tango. In my colection I have many of Lomuto. Piazzolla, We know is only for listening, but at the same time of very high quality. Lamarque, a great Star in every way, I have nearly 22 movies of her. Sassone, very good orquestra also had Sosa singing with him. Domingo and Marconi great mucicians. The other Domingo, better stick with opera!!.
Posted by Miguel | 05.30.2010, 3:25 AMthere is another version by Las Faez, it’s quite nice, in case you don’t already know. 🙂
Posted by Ming | 10.06.2012, 10:38 AMI truly loved your page. I would have loved being an Argentinean just to say that in my homeland Tango was born. Nostalgia is one of my favorite tangos. I looked for “Caminito” but did not find it.
Posted by Gina Andrea | 10.09.2012, 8:15 PMI have really fallen in love with the Orquesta Tipica Fervor’s version of the song. It allows the song to ‘breathe’, even while providing a reasonable rhythm to dance to.
Posted by Joy Merwin Monteiro | 08.19.2013, 8:00 AMI really like Fervor Buenos Aires’ version also. It allows the song the ‘breathing’ space that it deserves, while still providing something to dancers.
Posted by Joy Merwin Monteiro | 08.19.2013, 8:01 AM