Carlos Di Sarli, 1945

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Picture a milonguero from the Golden Age, dressed to impressed: suit, hat, tie, shining shoes… Imagine the countless sleepless nights he spends dancing until the small hours, the sleepless nights he spends absorbed in ‘milonguear’ (touring milongas), as one says in Buenos Aires. Now try to empathise with him as he realises that what he took for a love embrace, merely was a tango embrace.

The story behind Porteño y bailarín

With its numerous references to themes commonly found in tango songs, Porteño y bailarín is as poetic, romantic and bittersweet as its hero. ‘Casita melancólica’ is an allusion to a small rundown house from one of the poor suburbs that surround Buenos Aires, the ‘arrabales’, another frequent tango theme. Its melancholy aspect comes from its being beyond reclaim. ‘Mis cuerdas’, which literally translates as ‘my cords’ is an implicit reference to guitar strings, which often appear as protagonists in tango songs, in folklore songs and poems.

Di Sarli composed Porteño y bailarín in 1945, at the height of his career.

 

This song has been translated by Tanguito, Argentine Tango Academy in London. We hope you enjoy this translation. If you have any comments, don’t hesitate to drop us a line.

Nathalie, Tanguito
 
 

The music

The lyrics

Porteño y bailarín, me hiciste tango, como soy:
 
Romántico y dulzón…
Me inspira tu violín, me arrastra el alma de tu compás,
me arrulla el bandoneón…
Melancólica casita, suspirando amor,
le di en tus puertas mi querer,
y en tu criolla ventanita recostada al sol,
rompió mis cuerdas el ayer.
Todo mi drama está en tu voz,
manos en adiós,
labios en carmín…
Por ella y por su amor me hiciste tango, como soy:
¡Porteño y bailarín!

Qué importa el sueño,
que a mis pupilas roban,
las mentidas horas
de bailar sin calma.
¡Qué importa el miedo
de dar la vida!
Si encontrara el beso,
que me pide el alma.
Hoy sé que fueron
tangos, amor y copas,
golondrinas locas,
en mi corazón.

Porteño y bailarín, resuena tango… que en tu voz
hoy vivo un novelón.
Su aliento vuelve a mi como esa noche que abracé,
su tierno corazón…
Melancólica casita de cristal y azul,
si a preguntar vuelve una vez,
en tu criolla ventanita transformada en cruz,
 
decile cuánto la lloré.
Una guitarra, un bordonear,
sueños y cantar…
¡Todo se llevó!
Porteño y bailarín, me hiciste tango, como soy,
romántico y dulzón…

A porteño(1) and a dancer, you made me, tango, the way I am:
Romantic and sweet…
Your violin inspires me, the soul of your beat draws me,
the bandoneon(2) lulls me…
Melancholic little house, longing for love,
at your doors, I gave her my love,
and at your small traditional window leaning against the sun,
the past broke the strings of my guitar.
All my drama is in your voice,
hands in good byes,
lips in red…
Because of her and because of her love, you made me, tango, the way I am:
a porteño and a dancer!

What does it matter
the sleep stolen
by the deceptive hours
of dancing without resting.
What does it matter the fear
of giving our life!
If I had found the kiss,
that my soul demands.
Today I know these are no more,
tangos, love and drinks,
crazy swallows,
in my heart.

A porteño and a dancer, resound tango… so that in your voice, today I live an epic novel.
Her breath comes back to me
just as it was on that night
when I held her tender heart…
Melancholic little house of crystal and blue,
if she ever comes back to ask,
at your small traditional window now turned into a cross,
tell her how much I cried for her.
A guitar, playing strings,
dreams and singing…
Everything is gone!
A porteño and a dancer, you made me, tango, the way I am:
romantic and sweet…

(1) Porteño: an inhabitant of Buenos Aires. The word comes from ‘puerto’, ‘port’ and means ‘people from the port’. From the 19th century until the middle of the 20th century, the port of Buenos Aires was a major commercial hub and employment centre and played an important role in the economic activity of the city and the country.
(2) Bandoneon: a small accordion.