Oro y plata

ORO Y PLATA

Gold and silver (1943)

LYRICS by: Homero Manzi

MUSIC by: Charlo

TRANSLATION by: Alberto Paz

Last updated on: 6/10/12

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Sing along with CHARLO

Homero Manzi epic poem about a love triangle among people of color reflects on an imaginary time in the mid eighteen fifties, a period from where there is no evidence left about the lives and mores of the black population. The term “pardo” is used to define a mulatto as opposed to the generic designing of “black” to the people of color population. The use of the drum metaphor is in reference to the mythical camdombe rhythm usually associated with early slave populations in colonial Buenos Aires.

CASTELLANO

ENGLISH

Un broche de aguamarina y una esterlina te regaló. Tu negro, que era muy pobre, no tuvo un cobre para el amor. Un pardo de ropa fina para tu ruina te convenció. Yo digo que una mulata, por oro y plata se enamoró. ¡Ay! Late que late, y el cuero del parche bate con manos de chocolate, el negro que la perdió; rueda que rueda, lo mismo que una moneda, con ropas de tul y seda, la negra que le mintió. Todos los cueros están doblando, Pero sus ojos están llorando, que un pardo de cuello duro fumando un puro se la llevó. ¡Ay! Siga que siga, no sufras ni la maldigas que el cielo también castiga la culpa de la ambición. La manos en la tambora mientras tu pena, llora que llora. Yo digo que es un tesoro de plata y oro tu corazón. Tu corazón. Tu corazón. Un broche y una esterlina fueron la ruina de una pasión. Un pardo con diez monedas forró de seda tu corazón. La plata siempre es la plata que hiere y mata sin compasión, yo digo que una mulata por oro y plata se enamoró… Ay…

An aquamarine brooch and sterling he gave you. Your black man, who was very poor, didn’t have a penny to buy love. A well dressed mulatto man convinced you, for your downfall. I say that a mulatto woman, for gold and silver fell in love. Oh! Beats and beats, the drumhead beats with chocolate hands, the black man who lost her; rolls and rolls, same as a coin, with robes of tulle and silk, the black woman who lied to him. All the drum leathers are tolling, But his eyes are crying, a starched collar mulatto smoking a cigar took her with him. Oh! Follow and follow, don’t suffer nor curse her that heaven also punishes the guilt of ambition. The hands on the drum while your sorrow, crying crying. I say it is a treasure of silver and gold your heart. Your heart. Your heart. A clasp and a sterling were the ruin of a passion. A mulatto with ten coins silk lined her heart. Silver is always the silver that wounds and kills without mercy, I say that a mulatto girl for gold and silver fell in love… Oh!

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