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Tuesday, 23 February 2021

de puro guapo

 This is from the page on the Tango Decoder website (now defunct?)

Canaro/Maida version see below



Amidst cortes and quebradas*
I murmured sweetly in your ear
All my flowery words of love. 
what my love told you
The way you smiled
Showed all your coquettishness
And I, my manliness was vanquished…
I, who always came out on top.

Entre cortes y quebradas,
suave rezongué en tu oído
todo mi verbo florido
que te dijo mi querer.
Vos mostraste en tu sonrisa
toda tu coquetería,
y yo, vencida mi hombría…
Yo que siempre supe vencer.
*De Puro Guapo: This Argentine slang expression denotes a person who meets adversity with boldness and bravery. The song was recorded by Pedro Laurenz as well as Canaro, D'Arienzo, Troilo, and others. This is not to be confused with an earlier song (1927) by the same title with a similar theme, but much more violent and misogynistic. The earlier song was written by Rafael Iriarte with lyrics by Juan Carlos Fernández Díaz, and recorded by Gardel, Fresedo, Canaro (he recorded both songs) and others.
*Cortes and quebradas: Two iconic movements of early tango.
*rag in one hand: The classic gaucho dueling technique
involved wrapping a poncho around
one hand and forearm to act as a shield against dagger thrusts. I'm guessing that the urban duellist of later years, who was not a gaucho and no longer wore a poncho, simply wrapped a towel or rag (trapo) around his hand for the same reason. 
To win your love
 
I’m ready to risk my life
 
On the hand that I’ve drawn….
 
It’s not the first hand
 
On which I bet everything I had…
 
And when it comes to winning or losing
 
–I’m not one to wimp out–
There’s always the dagger, a steady hand,
Courage, bravura,
To keep my self respect.
Pa' conseguir tu cariño
quiero jugarme la vida
al naipe que me ha gustado…
No es la primera partida 
en que mi resto he jugado…
Y si al final copo y gano,
—taura soy en la postura—
hay un facón, brava mano,
coraje y bravura
pa' hacerme valer.
This section is sung by Roberto Maida in the Canaro version
(youtube link)
What I want, I take, 
And that by force and bravery.
It’s enough that I have my rag in one hand*
And a dagger in the other…
If my past deeds aren’t enough,
I’ll put my courage to the test.
Nobody gets the better of me
Where your love is at stake.
Lo que yo quiero lo tengo,
y eso por taura y por guapo…
Basta que en un brazo el trapo
tenga y en otro el facón…
Si no bastan mis hazañas
pongo mi coraje a prueba.
¡Nadie ventaja me lleva
cuando está en juego tu amor!


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