A MEDIA LUZ

At low light (1924)

LYRICS by: Carlos Cesar Lenzi

MUSIC by: Edgardo Donato

TRANSLATION by: Alberto Paz

Last updated on: 10/9/11

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Sing along with RODOLFO LESICA with HECTOR VARELA

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CASTELLANO

ENGLISH

Corrientes tres cuatro ocho, segundo piso, ascensor; no hay porteros ni vecinos adentro, cocktel y amor. Pisito que puso Maple, piano, estera y velador… un telefon que contesta, una fonola que llora viejos tangos de mi flor, y un gato de porcelana pa que no maulle al amor. Y todo a media luz, que es un brujo el amor, a media luz los besos, a media luz los dos… Y todo a media luz, crepusculo interior, que suave terciopelo la media luz de amor. Juncal doce veinticuatro, telefonea sin temor; de tarde, te con masitas, de noche, tango y amor; los domingos, te danzante, los lunes, desolacion. Hay de todo en la casita: almohadones y divanes como en botica… coco, alfombras que no hacen ruido y mesa puesta al amor…

Corrientes three-four-eight, second floor, elevator There are no doormen nor neighbors. Inside, cocktail and love. Loft furnished by Maple: piano, rug and nightlamp, a telephone that answers, a fonograph that cries old tangos of my flower and a porcelain cat that can’t mew the love. And everything at half light that love is a sorcerer… At half light the kisses… At half light the two of us… And all at half light… interior twilight… What a soft velvet the half light of love! Juncal twelve twentyfour Call without fear. On afternoons, tea with pastries; at night, tango and love. On Sundays, tea dancing; on Mondays, emptiness… There is everything in the little house: pillows and sofas; like in a drugstore, coke; carpets muffling the sound and a table set for love.

Copyright (c) Planet Tango 1998-2011 All Rights Reserved

ANOCHE A LAS DOS

Last night at 2 am (1951)

LYRICS by: Roberto Lino Cayol

MUSIC by: Raul De Los Hoyos

TRANSLATION by: Alberto Paz

Last updated on: 9/10/11

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Sing along with Armando Laborde with the Hector Varela orchestra

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CASTELLANO

ENGLISH

Por fin has logrado mujer de la calle que un hombre decente se pierda por vos que hiera en su carne con odio asesino y en un calabozo jamas conocio.Mientras trabajaba de noche en la imprenta para que tuvieses el pan que te di vos, hasta olvidando que tienes un hijo mi nombre y el tuyo manchabas asi Gata, con un arañazo pagas mi amor inconciente no mereces ni el balazo que un hombre decente te acaba de dar. Y hoy cuando el llanto te ahoga no es que estes arrepentida es al pensar que la herida tu cuerpo de loca te pueda estropear “Yo estaba tranquila sentada en mi mesa hace unos instantes en este cafe cuando de repente un hombre se acerca afuera me llama y salgo tras de el” “Sin mediar palabra sacando un revolver un tiro en el brazo cobarde me dio y este caballero vio huir al canalla y en ayuda mia valiente acudio.” Miente, yo soy quien la ha herido mientes no quieras salvarme solo el culpable yo he sido y voy a entregarme señor oficial. Lloras, no borra tu llanto ni tu mentira indulgente todo el dolor y el quebranto que a hombre decente le has hecho pasar

Street walker, you have finally accomplished, that a decent man loose it because of you that he wounds his flesh with murderous hatred ending up in a jail cell he’s never been beforeWhile I worked the nigh shift at the print shop so I could put the bread on our table you, even forgetting that you have a son My name, and yours, you tarnished this way. Cat, with a scratch you pay my unconscious love you’re not worth the bullet that a decent man has just put on you nd now when the tears choke you It’s not that you’re sorry It’s because you worry that the wound will ruin your slutty body. “I was quietly sitting at my table moments ago in this cafe when suddenly a man came in asked me out and I went out after him.” “Without saying a word, drawing a revolver the coward shot me in the arm and this gentleman saw the creep flee and bravely came to my help.” She’s lying, I’m the one who shot her you lie, do not try to save me I’m the only guilty one and I’m turning myself in Mr. Officer. You cry, your tears do not erase, nor your indulgent lying, all the pain and grief that you made a decent man suffer

Copyright (c) Planet Tango 1998-2010 All Rights Reserved

Updated 10/19/10 

MURIO EL MALEVO

The street fighter died (1953)

LYRICS by: Carlos Waiss

MUSIC by: Hector Varela

TRANSLATION by: Alberto Paz

Last updated on: 10/8/10

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Sing along with Rodolfo Lesica with the Hector Varela orchestra

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CASTELLANO

ENGLISH

El barrio rezonga, se ha muerto el malevo que triste y callado quedo el arrabal la noche parece vestirse de duelo y tiembla la sangre que enluta un puñal.  Pensar que un mocoso de puro atrevido busco madrugarlo para hacerse cartel y en cuanto el malevo tanteaba el cuchillo tenia hasta el mango clavado el de el. La cortada lloro sangre y apretandose la herida fue boqueando en su agonia por el viejo callejon Ni una mano ni un amigo, le ayudo a cerrar los ojos Ni unos tibios labios rojos le rezaron un adios. (Recitado) Pobre guapo, lo achuraron como a res de matadero y hoy, y hoy a cada conventillo, llega un cacho de emocion (Cantado) En la ronda de un boliche, entonandose un gargero mientras cuenta alguna hazaña por el malevo que murio. “Lo vieron plantado, guapear sin alardes jugarse una carta de frente a un rival copando un cariño de dos ojos negros manojos de celos de aquel arrabal.” La Tierra del Fuego no pudo domarlo diez años de carcel su hombrada pago. Su pobre viejita de tanto llorarlo mordiendo su angustia de pena murio.

The neighborhood grumbles, has died the street fighter how sad and quiet the suburb has become the night seems to dress up with mourning and the blood trembles casting a shadow over a dagger.  To think that an insolent brat punk tried to catch him off guard to show off and as the brawler fumbled for his knife he already had the other’s buried to the handle into him. The wound wept blood, and clutching the wound he was gasping in agony by the old alley Not a hand or a friend helped him close his eyes Nor any warm red lips prayed him a goodbye. (Recited) Poor fighter, they gut him like a slaughterhouse’s cow and today, and today to each tenement, there comes a piece of emotion (Sung) In the round of a cantina, alcohol in the windpipe there is a telling of some feat of the fighter who died. “The saw him standing up, defiant without fanfare Taking a stand in front of a rival monopolizing the fondness of two black eyes bunchs of jealousy from that suburb.” Tierra del Fuego could not tame him ten years in jail, he paid for his manly act. His poor old mother, from crying so much biting her anguish, she died of heartache.

Copyright (c) Planet Tango 1998-2010 All Rights Reserved

HISTORIA DE UN AMOR

A Love Story (1956)

LYRICS by: Carlos Almarán

MUSIC by: Carlos Almarán

TRANSLATION by: Alberto Paz

Last updated on: 9/8/11

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Sing along with Rodolfo Lesica with the Hector Varela orchestra

This song was written by Panamanian songwriter Carlos Eleta Almaran, and it tells the story about a man’s old love. It was written after the death of his brother’s wife. The tango arrangement belongs to the Hector Varela orchestra

CASTELLANO

ENGLISH

Ya no estás a mi lado, corazón, en el alma sólo tengo soledad y si ya no puedo verte, por que Dios me hizo quererte para hacerme sufrir más…Siempre fuiste la razón de mi existir, adorarte para mí fue religión. Y en tus besos yo encontraba el calor que me brindaba, el amor y la pasión. Es la historia de un amor, como no hay otro igual. Que me hizo comprender, todo el bien todo el mal, que le dio luz a mi vida, apagandola después. ¡Ay, qué vida tan oscura, corazón, sin tu amor no viviré!

You’re no longer at my side, heart, I only have loneliness in the soul and if I can’t see you  any longer, why God made me love you to make me suffer more…You were always the reason for my existence, worshiping you for me was like religion. And in your kisses I’ve found the heat that they gave me the love and the passion. It is the story of a love, as there has been no equal. That made me understand all the good all the bad, that illuminated my life, turning it off afterwards. Oh, what a dark life, heart Without your love I will not live !

Copyright (c) Planet Tango 1998-2010 All Rights Reserved

Updated 9/6/10

VOLVE MI NEGRA

Come back, my friend (1928)

LYRICS by: Jose Antonio Diez Gomez

MUSIC by: Jose Maria Rizutti

TRANSLATION by: Alberto Paz

Last updated on: 9/7/10

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Sing along with Rodolfo Lesica and the Hector Varela Orchestra

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CASTELLANO

ENGLISH

Fuistes derecha, no me fallaste y aunque fui malo, seguiste fiel todo el cariño que me juraste recien lo alcanzo a comprender. Lo supe todo cuando mi daga corto la vida de mi rival, “Es inocente,” y esas palabras fueron elogio de tu lealtad. Volve mi negra al nido que loco yo deshice que el mal que cruel te hice te juro haz de olvidar. Volve mi negra buena volve pa’perdonarme que asi solo haz de darme, dicha y felicidad. Y aqui otra vez juntitos sabre recompensarte con cariño constante tu nobleza y lealtad. Volve mi negra buena que mi cariño espera la buena compañera que no se ira jamas. Y en estas noches de crudo invierno triste y sombrio del arrabal siento en mi pecho intenso frio es que me espanta la soledad. Por eso negra vengo a buscarte quiero que escuches mi corazon Volve mi negra, quiero pagarte con mi ternura todo mi amor. Volve mi negra al nido que loco yo deshice que el mal que cruel te hice te juro haz de olvidar. Volve mi negra buena volve pa’perdonarme que asi solo haz de darme, dicha y felicidad. Y aqui otra vez juntitos sabre recompensarte con cariño constante tu nobleza y lealtad. Volve mi negra buena que mi cariño espera la buena compañera que no se ira jamas.

You were straight, you didn’t let me down, and although I was wrong, you remained faithful all the love that you promised I’m just beginning to comprehend. I knew it all when my dagger cut short the life of my rival, “He is innocent,” and those words were a praise of your loyalty. Come back my friend to the nest that I, distraught, messed up the evil that, cruelly, I did to you I swear, you will forget. Come back, my good friend come back to forgive me That way you will only give me, joy and happiness. And here again together I’ll know how to reward, with constant affection, your nobility and loyalty. Come back, my good friend that my affection awaits the good partner that will never go away. And in those cold winter nights, sad and gloomy, of the suburb I feel in my chest an intense cold, it’s that it scares me the loneliness. That’s why I come to get you I want you to listen to my heart Come back my friend, I wanna pay you with my tenderness all my love. Come back my friend to the nest that I, distraught, messed up the evil that cruel I did to you I swear, you will forget. Come back, my good friend come back to forgive me That way you will only give me, joy and happiness. And here again together I’ll know how to reward, with constant affection, your nobility and loyalty. Come back, my good friend that my affection awaits the good partner that will never go away.

Copyright (c) Planet Tango 1998-2010 All Rights Reserved