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Wednesday, 20 January 2021

A Media Luz

 

A Media Luz
composed by Carlos Lenzi 1924

Carlos Gardel version youtube

version Orq Eduardo Donato, canta Horacio Lagos, youtube

A media luz- Rosita Quiroga (1927) youtube

 

There are many versions of this tango with many orchestras and singers

 

Information around the web:

Gorriones

 

youtube link to d'agostini version with lyrics in Spanish and English canta: Angel Vargas


La noche, compadre, se ha ido a baraja

The night, friend, has turned away

y pinta la guía del sol en el cielo.

and paints a guide in the sky for the sun

La luna, es la bruja fulera que raja

The moon is the dead witch that quits

y el sol, una rubia que se suelta el pelo.

and the sun, a blonde who looses her hair.


El sol es la diana que trae la alegría,

The sun is the target that brings joy,

la suave alegría de la vida nueva,

the soft joy of new life,

la pilcha caliente que se pone el día

the hot streak that sets the day

cuando sale triste de su obscura cueva.

when it comes out sad from its dark cave.

El sol es el poncho del pobre que pasa

The sun is the poncho of the poor that passes

mascando rebelde blasfemias y ruegos

spewing rebellious blasphemies and pleas

pues tiene una horrible tragedia en su casa

He has a horrible tragedy at home

tragedia de días sin pan y sin fuego.

tragedy of days without bread and without fire.


Nosotros gorriones del hampa gozamos

We underworld sparrows enjoy

su amistad sincera en días de farra.

Your sincere friendship in fiestas

¡Qué importa la guita si adentro llevamos

What does the path matter if we carry inside

el alma armoniosa de veinte guitarras!

The harmonious soul of twenty guitars!


Nos queman las alas las luces del centro

The light of the center burns our wings

por eso el suburbio tranquilos buscamos

that's why we look for the quiet suburb

y cuando una pena nos tala por dentro

and when a pain cuts us inside

cantamos más tristes pero igual cantamos

We sing sadder but we still sing.

Cicatrices


Cicatrices ("scars") is a tango with only a few versions (at least pre ~1955) where all of the four verses are sung, the exception is the version by Carlos Gardel. Other notable versions include:

Juan D'Arienzo sung by Hector Maure

Rodolfo Biagi sung by Andrés Falgás (2nd verse)

and a 1951 version by Héctor Mauré is mentioned in Todotango where the lyrics and score can be found.

José María Otero in his blogspot has a fascinating article that delves into the writing and origins of the song. His blogspot can be viewed in its orginal spanish or with google translate (see also here)

Lyrics (the English translation is work under progress - currently its google translate!

Cicatrices

incurables de una herida

que me ha causado la vida

en su triste batallar.

Cicatrices

que ya no se cierran nunca

porque llevan siempre trunca

la esperanza de curar.


La quería eternamente

pero ella fue perjura

y llenó de honda amargura

y de pena mi ilusión.

Y es por eso que ahora vivo

siempre a golpes con la suerte

y sólo quiero la muerte

para mi angustiado y pobre corazón.


En la cara

también luzco con orgullo

un recuerdo que es muy tuyo

y que llevo por mi mal.

Un recuerdo

que me hicieron en tu nombre

cuando yo jugué como hombre

con la vida del rival.


Cicatrices imborrables

de un tormentoso pasado

que la suerte me ha brindado

y que nunca perderé.

Cicatrices de mi vida

que, aunque no tienen encanto,

yo las quiero tanto y tanto

que jamás, jamás ya nunca olvidaré.


Writer/s: Enrique Maroni, Adolfo Avilés

Scars

incurable from a wound

what life has caused me

in her sad battle.

Scars

that never close anymore

because they always have truncated

hope to heal.


I wanted her forever

but she was perjured

and she filled with deep bitterness

and my illusion sad.

And that's why I live now

always beating with luck

and I only want death

for my anguished and poor heart.


In the face

I also look proud

a memory that is very yours

and that I carry for my bad.

A memory

what did they do to me in your name

when i played as a man

with the life of the rival.


Indelible scars

of a stormy past

that luck has given me

and that I will never lose.

Scars of my life

that, although they have no charm,

I love them so much and so much

that I will never, never never forget.