Music: Alfredo De Angelis – Lyrics: José Rótulo (1946)
This is a classic love song, beautifully rendered by De Angelis’ orchestra with the voice of Raul Beron. |
The story
The title “remolino” (whirlwind) refers to how the poet feels for his lost love but can also be taken more literally as the whirlwind of the dance. You can very well imagine this couple at what used to be their favourite milonga, him sitting at a corner table in “rage” and “pain” and her dancing the night away, in “joy” and “laughter”. A whirlwind of sentiments and of twirling skirts.
In tangos, the last verse of this song is often omitted, which some milongueros regret, for it is a verse of forgiveness, a verse in which ultimately, loves wins over resentment and bitterness.
Translating a song is an art and not a science and there’s often a trade-off to be made between staying true to the original meaning of the text, whilst using impactful words, creating rimes and rhythms which will trigger an emotional response.
We did face such a dilemma in this song, with the verse: y ¿para qué te quiero así?
In Spanish, querer means both “to love” and “to want”. The closest translation of this verse would be “O why must I love you so?”. However, this translation doesn’t have much rhythm and doesn’t rhyme, which is why, in the end, we chose to use the second meaning of querer, “to want”, creating a beautiful rhyme and a stronger emotional response.
Once | a | gain | we | meet | in | par | ting |
Oh | why | can’t | I | end | this | wan | ting |
Remolino has been translated by Tanguito, Argentine Tango Academy in London, with the help of a fantastic milonguera friend. If you have any comment or have other interpretations of the lyrics, please feel free to share your opinion, we’d love to hear what you think. 🙂
The music
Tangology published a lovely tanda which includes Remolino. Check it out if you want to get into a milonga mood already! 🙂
The lyrics
Remolino
Vivo sin saber cómo puedo resistir |
Whirlwind
I exist with no hope of resisting |
Quiero no querer lo que sufro por vencer este viento de tristeza y soledad. Y, nuevamente, me aprisiona el remolino con tu sombra, con mi sino, sin salvación. |
I so want not to want, how it taunts me to face These flurries of sadness and loneliness! And anew, shaped like you, like my fate, The whirlwind grips me, hopelessly enthralled. |
Tu voz… vuelvo a escuchar tu voz. Vuelves en el adiós, y ¿para qué te quiero así? y ¿para qué? Si tu querer, solo dejó mi corazón, sin su latir, sin ilusión. |
Your voice – Once again I hear your voice. Once again we meet in parting Oh why can’t I end this wanting? What for, if your love Left my heart incomplete Without dreams, Skipping beats. |
Tu voz… vuelvo a escuchar tu voz. Vuelves en el adiós y el remolino con tu risa y mi rencor y tu reír y mi dolor, y yo que di todo mi amor. |
Your voice – Once again I hear your voice. Once again we meet in parting And the whirlwind Of your laughter and my rage, Of your joy and of my pain, Of all the love I gave away. |
Di mi corazón sin medir por qué lo di y el amor me regaló su desamor. Es el castigo que me da tanta bonanza y me roba la esperanza de seguir mirándote. Justo y pecador todo di y no pedí nada más que la alegría de un adiós. Y voy sufriendo como sufre el que ha pecado porque quise y he soñado tu redención. |
Recklessly I gave my heart But Love my love did scorn Thus was my open heart repaid Stripped of the hope of ever seeing you again Saint or sinner, I gave it all, Expecting nothing but the joy of a farewell, And so I’ll go on, suffering like one who Sinned, for he hoped and dreamt of saving you. |