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Una pena (1923)

A Pang
lyrics by Arturo Luis Albert

In my soul I feel a sadness
that may no longer have any cure—
the bloody bite wound
of my first love.
And there’s longing for those eyes
filled with a bewitching sweetness
whose gaze I imagined was mine
for one dream-filled moment.

Friends, leave me alone—
so I can dream of her more…

As I trembled and told her, “I love you,
my sad little life belongs entirely to you,”
I never thought her answer
could be a decisive “No!”
Oh, how twisted a man’s fate can become
if a miserable love clings to him!

Orq. Ángel D’Agostino, singer Ángel Vargas

Orq. Rodolfo Biagi, singer Teófilo Ibáñez

Orq. Francisco Lomuto, singer Miguel Montero

(Spanish original after the jump)

Una pena

Siento en el alma una tristeza
que acaso ya no tenga cura—
una sangrante mordedura
de mi primer amor.
Y la añoranza de unos ojos
llenos de dulce brujería,
cuya mirada soñé mía
en un momento de ilusión.

Amigos, déjenme solo
para soñarla mejor…

Cuando le dije tembloroso: “Te amo,
mi pobre vida es plenamente tuya,”
jamás pensé que la respuesta suya
pudiera ser un terminante: ¡No!
¡Cómo se tuerce el porvenir del hombre
si lo acompaña un desdichado amor!

About Derrick Del Pilar

Born and raised in Chicago, I came to the tango while studying at the Universidad de Belgrano in Buenos Aires in 2006. In 2008 I earned my B.A. with majors in Creative Writing and Spanish & Portuguese from the University of Arizona, and in 2009 I earned an M.A. in Latin American Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. My specialty is the history & literature of early 20th century Argentina.

Discussion

2 thoughts on “Una pena (1923)

  1. Hi; Well I’ll like to comment on this 3 versions of not a well know tango. It is well know how good Vargas sing many people in everywhere said he is like a part of the orchestra like an instrument more. Ibanez is a good singer. Montero well I can not be fair since he was a good friend of mine but what I can say is when he sings he puts everything in it filling passion and his all. So how good Vargas is I think Montero put a little bit extra in saying or singing this particular tango. Is my humble opinion.

    Posted by Miguel Angel Pietragallo | 04.19.2011, 6:17 AM
  2. excellent. thank you for translating these songs.

    if i may, a couple of suggestions: ACUERDATE DE MI (Di Sarli/Duran) and COTORITTA DE LA SUERTE (Troilo)?

    Posted by andrej | 05.24.2011, 2:04 PM

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The sound files on this site are included for illustrative purposes only. Those wishing to obtain high quality versions for their personal collections should purchase commercially available copies. If you can't get to a record store in Buenos Aires, a great many tangos are available, song by song, in meticulously digitized versions from http://www.tangotunes.com/ and others can be found on the iTunes music store or Amazon (transfer quality varies widely). Though he no longer has inventory available, Michael Lavocah's superb http://milonga.co.uk/ can help you determine which CDs might be best to buy used.
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