Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Alma en pena

Alma en pena is a Tango written by Anselmo Aieta and recorded by Osvaldo Fresedo in 1928. The Tango Alma en pena is written by Anselmo Aieta, Osvaldo Fresedo has recorded Alma en pena with the singer Ernesto Famá.
“Alma en Pena,” which translates to “Tormented Soul,” is a haunting piece that echoes the depths of sorrow and longing. The music weaves through shadows, embodying the cries of a heart burdened by loss and regret. It speaks with an elegance that only the silent dance of a tormented soul can convey, leaving an indelible mark on the listener’s heart.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Fresedo

Orchestra

Ernesto Famá

Singer

Francisco García Jiménez

Author

Anselmo Aieta

Composer

1928/10/9

Date

Ernesto Famá
Ernesto Famá
Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo

Discover Other Orchestras

Julio De Caro – Aromas – 1928/6/18
Julio De Caro – Agua corriente – 1926/1/1
Julio De Caro – El pillete – 1927/12/1
Julio De Caro – Pobre cantor – 1928/1/1
Julio De Caro – Soy bailarin – 1950/12/18
Horacio Salgán – Pedacito de cielo – 1969/1/1
Horacio Salgán – Mano brava – 1963/1/1
Horacio Salgán – La última curda – 1957/7/17
Horacio Salgán – Milonguero viejo – 1957/7/17
Horacio Salgán – La casita de mis viejos – 1957/7/17
Alfredo De Angelis – Bonita – 1960/5/16
Alfredo De Angelis – Cruz de palo – 1944/11/23
Alfredo De Angelis – Porque yo quiero – 1968/10/30
Alfredo De Angelis – Tecleando – 1977/1/21
Alfredo De Angelis – Que nadie sepa mi sufrir – 1953/12/18
Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna – Lucecitas de mi pueblo – 1959/6/30
Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna – La huella – 1959/9/29
Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna – Aquellas cartas – 1959/7/8
Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna – Pa’ la guardia – 1959/6/30
Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna – Merceditas – 1958/9/23

Recommended

These Tangos, Valses, and Milongas were recorded around the same time. Take a look to discover what else this orchestra—or others—may have recorded during the same week or even on the exact same day.

Alma en pena recorded by other Orchestras

Alma en pena recorded by other Orchestras

1928/10/9 – Piedad – Osvaldo Fresedo
1928/10/10 – Con alma y vida – Francisco Canaro
1928/10/10 – Malevaje – Roberto Firpo
1928/10/10 – La vuelta de Rocha – Roberto Firpo
1928/10/10 – Vengan muchachos – Julio De Caro
Alma en pena – 1928/10/9 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Ernesto Fama
Alma en pena – 1946/7/5 – Ricardo Tanturi – Roberto Videla
Alma en pena – 1946/5/22 – Enrique Rodriguez – Fernando Reyes
Alma en pena – 1928/10/25 – Roberto Firpo – Teofilo Ibanez

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Alma en pena

This is the translation of the Tango “Alma en pena” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Alma en pena” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Alma en pena

Aún el tiempo no logró
llevar su recuerdo,
borrar las ternuras
que guardan escritas
sus cartas marchitas
que tantas lecturas
con llanto desteñí…
¡Ella sí que me olvidó!…
Y hoy frente a su puerta
la oigo contenta,
percibo sus risas
y escucho que a otro
le dice las mismas
mentiras que a mí…

Alma… que en pena vas errando,
acércate a su puerta
suplícale llorando:
Oye… perdona si te pido
mendrugos del olvido
que alegre te hace ser…
¡Tú me enseñaste a querer y he sabido!
Y haberlo aprendido
de amores me mata…
Y yo que voy aprendiendo hasta a odiarte,
tan sólo a olvidarte
no puedo aprender.

Esa voz que vuelvo a oír,
un día fue mía,
y hoy de ella es apenas
el eco el que alumbra
mi pobre alma en pena,
que cae moribunda
al pie de su balcón…
Esa voz que maldecí,
hoy oigo que a otro
promete la gloria,
y cierro los ojos,
y es una limosna
de amor, que recojo
con mi corazón.

English lyrics of the Tango "Alma en pena"

Time still has not managed
to carry her memory away,
to erase the tenderness
that her faded letters hold,
written with so many readings
and washed with tears…
She truly forgot me!…
And today, in front of her door
I hear her happy,
I sense her laughter,
and hear her telling another
the same lies she told me…

Soul… wandering in torment,
approach her door,
begging through tears:
Listen… forgive me for asking
for crumbs of oblivion
that make you happy…
You taught me how to love, and I have learned!
And having learned it
is killing me with love…
And I, even learning to hate you,
just cannot learn to forget.

That voice I hear again,
once was mine,
and now, from her, it’s barely
the echo that lights up
my poor tormented soul,
falling dying
at the foot of her balcony…
That voice I cursed,
today I hear making promises of heaven to another,
and I close my eyes,
and it’s a charity of love,
that I collect
with my heart.

Alma en pena by Francisco García Jiménez

Alma en pena is a Tango written by Francisco García Jiménez and composed by Anselmo Aieta.


Story behind the Tango Alma en pena

“Alma en pena” translates to “Soul in pain” in English. The lyrics tell the story of a person haunted by the memory of a lover who has moved on. Despite the passage of time, the protagonist is unable to forget, painfully clinging to the old letters from the loved one, who now laughs and lies to another. The reader can feel the depth of the character’s despair and solitude as he stands by her door, hearing her happiness with someone else.


Symbolism of Alma en pena

The title itself and throughout the tango, “Alma en pena,” symbolizes a soul tormented and wandering in pain, indicative of the protagonist’s emotional state. Notable phrases like “mendrugos del olvido” (crumbs of forgetfulness) illustrate the protagonist’s desperate plea for even the smallest piece of indifference to ease his suffering. The constant remembrance and inability to forget signal a deeply rooted emotional attachment and profound grief. The infernal cycle of remembering and suffering, hoping and being disappointed, is effectively captured through the vivid portrayals of the ex-lover’s voice and laughter, which continue to haunt and hurt the soul in pain.


Alma en pena in historic Context

The tango “Alma en pena” was written in 1928, an era when tango music was integral to Argentine culture, often expressing themes of unrequited love, melancholy, and nostalgia. During this time, Buenos Aires was a melting pot of immigrants and diverse influences, shaping a cultural backdrop where tango flourished not just as a dance but as an expression of deeper societal and personal conflicts. The lyrics reflect the emotional turbulence and the societal norms of romance and heartbreak in the urban landscape of Argentina during the late 1920s.


Francisco García Jiménez

Francisco García Jiménez was a renowned lyricist known for his contributions to the tango genre in Argentina. His works often delve into themes of love, betrayal, and existential sorrow.