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.

Derrick Del Pilar has written 149 posts for Poesía de gotán: The Poetry of the Tango

Oigo tu voz (1943)

Posted by Derrick Del Pilar ⋅ 05.21.2009 ⋅ 4 Comments

I Hear Your Voice lyrics by Francisco García Jiménez music by Mario Canaro Afraid of dying, longing to be alive— dreams or reality? Something wants to become a sunrise in my solitude… songs I have forgotten, places I have left, joys I have lost, today with the emotions inside my heart everything returns to me! I … Continue reading →

Tu diagnóstico (1941)

Posted by Derrick Del Pilar ⋅ 05.20.2009 ⋅ 2 Comments

Your Diagnosis lyrics and music by José Betinotti Your diagnosis is simple, but I know that I don’t have a cure— and I know that I’m terminally desperate for your hope and your yearning. What are we going to do, oh my darling? I will adore my memories of you, I will beg you to … Continue reading →

Recién (1943)

Posted by Derrick Del Pilar ⋅ 05.13.2009 ⋅ 3 Comments

Just Now lyrics by Homero Manzi music by Osvaldo Pugliese Today, just now, just now, I bring my life close to you again— hiding all my failures, concealing all my wounds. And today as I find the protection of your steady hands just now I realize that it hurts me to know I’ve done you … Continue reading →

Milonga del 900 (1933)

Posted by Derrick Del Pilar ⋅ 05.13.2009 ⋅ 9 Comments

Milonga of the 1900s lyrics by Homero Manzi music by Sebastián Piana I like mismatched things and I don’t walk on the sidewalk; I wear a Massera porkpie hat [1] and military boots on my feet. I loved her because I loved her and ‘cause of that I’m hurting now— she’s left me and I don’t … Continue reading →

La milonga de Buenos Aires (1939)

Posted by Derrick Del Pilar ⋅ 05.11.2009 ⋅ 4 Comments

The Milonga of Buenos Aires lyrics by Ivo Pelay music by Francisco Canaro To your majestic sound I saw you pass today through my big city and in you I discovered the exact copy of one that I had forgotten, and that, like you, was a porteña… You are the flower of Buenos Aires, the beautiful … Continue reading →

Poesía de gotán: The Poetry of the Tango

Search