Music: José García – Lyrics: Julio Jorge Nelson
Nocturno de tango, Nocturne of tango was composed by José Garcia with lyrics from J.J. Nelson. Like all nocturnes, Nocturno de tango is a musical composition that is inspired by the night. The song draws an implicit contrast between day time, dedicated to all things ‘normal’, and night time, when tango reigns and the milonguero within us takes life. |
Night time is what is celebrated in this nocturne, as is the place tango plays in Buenos Aires night life: tango was and is still danced in Buenos Aires, from late evening (when the sun goes away, and the moon appears in all its glory, as the lyrics of the song go) until early morning (just in time for coffee and media luna, the local croissants).
Although very short, the lyrics capture beautifully the melancholy and romantic essence of tango and assert its origins in Buenos Aires poor neighbourhoods. However modest at its beginnings, tango and its truthful stories of a people travelled beyond time and borders (in the song, tango whistling is referred to as ‘the local spokesman of our song’). We, who today listen to Nocturno de tango in London are a testament of tango’s timelessness.
The song was performed by Orquesta de Jose Garcia y Los Zorros Grises with the incredible Alfredo Bermudez on vocals.
Nocturno de tango has been translated by Tanguito, Argentine Tango Academy in London. 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
The lyrics
Cuando el sol se va y la luna su fulgor asoma dos sombras a su conjuro se dibujan. Ella y él, nocturno de nuestro suburbio | When the sun goes away, and the moon appears in all its glory, two shadows appear to be drawn under its spell. she and he, the nocturne of our suburbs. |
Silbidos de tangos pregoneros porteños de nuestra canción. Nocturno de tango, Nocturno de tango. | The whistling of tangos, the local spokesmen of our song. Nocturne of tango, Nocturne of tango. |