TRES ESQUINAS |
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Three corners (1940) |
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LYRICS by: Enrique Cadicamo |
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MUSIC by: Angel D’Agostino-Alfredo Attadia |
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TRANSLATION by: Alberto Paz | |
Last updated on: 10/30/12 | |
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Sing along with ANGEL VARGAS with ANGEL D’AGOSTINO |
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Arrabal is a poetic representation of the suburbs, or the fringe territory outside the center of the city. According to Jose Gobello, “Tres esquinas” alludes to the crossing of Montes de Oca and Osvaldo Cruz Streets in the neighborhood of Barracas, and to the café called “Tres esquinas”, later “Cabo Fels”, located in that place. The lyric was written by Cadícamo in 1940 for a music previously composed by Ángel D’Agostino (for an unpublished tango entitled “Pobre piba”). It was premiered that year by Ángel Vargas who was the vocalist of the D’Agostino Orchestra.
We are grateful to Richard Norris who contributed valuable corrections and modifications both in style and accuracy. He sought the help of Daniel Korman, director of a language school in Bs.As., as some of the words used by Cadicamo are part of the jargon of the city and not found in the dictionary. |
CASTELLANO
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ENGLISH
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Yo soy del barrio de “Tres Esquinas”,
viejo baluarte del arrabal, donde florecen como glicinas las lindas pibas de delantal. Donde en la noche, tibia y serena, su antiguo aroma vuelca el malvon y bajo el cielo de luna llena duermen las chatas del corralon. Soy de ese barrio de humilde rango, Nada hay más lindo ni más compadre |
I’m from the neighborhood of “Tres Esquinas,”
An old bastion of the arrabal, Where they bloom like wisterias The pretty factory girls in uniform. Where in the night, warm and calm, The geranium casts its old fashioned aroma And under a full moon sky Sleep the horse carriages of the warehouse. I’m from that neighborhood of humble rank, There’s nothing more beautiful or proud |
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Your translation is a bit off.I used the correct parts, but modified it both for style and accuracy.
I sought the help of Daniel Korman,director of a language school in BA, as many of the words are idiomatic to BA and not in the dictionary:
I’m from the neighborhood of “Tres Esquinas”,
an old bastion in the rough part of town,
where the pretty uniformed factory girls
bloom like wisterias
.
Where in the warm, calm night,
the geraniums cast their old fashioned aroma
and the old warehouse trucks slumber
under a full moon sky.
I’m a man from this poor neighborhood ,
I love the sentimental tango,
I’m from that neighborhood that drinks mate,
under the shadows cast by the grape arbor.
On its street corners I caroused as a young man.
I pulled my knife for a crazy love,
and I saw in the eyes of a treacherous woman
the stoking of my burning passion.
Where in the warm, calm night,
the geraniums cast their old fashioned aroma
and the old warehouse trucks slumber
under a full moon sky.
Thank you.
Great job.