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Alma en pena

Alma en pena is a Tango written by Anselmo Aieta and recorded by Enrique Rodríguez in 1946. The Tango Alma en pena is written by Anselmo Aieta, Enrique Rodríguez has recorded Alma en pena with the singer Fernando Reyes.
“Alma en pena,” which translates to “Tormented Soul” in English, evokes a haunting melody that resonates with the depths of longing and heartache. This evocative piece captures the essence of a soul wandering in sorrow, searching for solace amidst shadows of lost love. The music weaves a tapestry of melancholy and resilience, echoing the eternal dance between despair and hope.

Tango

Style

Enrique Rodríguez

Orchestra

Fernando Reyes

Singer

Francisco García Jiménez

Author

Anselmo Aieta

Composer

1946/5/22

Date

Fernando Reyes
Fernando Reyes
Enrique Rodríguez
Enrique Rodríguez

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Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – De pura cepa (2) – 1948/1/21
Carlos di Sarli – Una fija – (unknown date)
Carlos di Sarli – Mi madre tierra – 1955/6/20
Carlos di Sarli – Maldonado – 1943/12/17
Carlos di Sarli – Bahia Blanca – (unknown date)
Carlos di Sarli – Champagne tango – 1944/7/20
Horacio Salgán – Shusheta (El aristócrata) – 1963/1/1
Horacio Salgán – El marne – 1953/9/2
Horacio Salgán – Recuerdo – 1963/1/1
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José De Alto (Dir. José Basso) – Nunca tuvo novio – 1959/9/14
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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

1946/5/22 – Juan Palomo – Enrique Rodriguez
1946/5/23 – Camino del Tucuman – Rodolfo Biagi
1946/5/23 – Mientras duerme la ciudad – Rodolfo Biagi
1946/5/23 – La noche y marfil – Domingo Federico
1946/5/23 – Un tal Medina – Domingo Federico
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 hasn’t managed
to take her memory away,
erase the tenderness
that her faded letters
keep written,
which I’ve read so many times
that my tears faded them…
She indeed forgot me!…
And today in front of her door
I hear her happily,
I sense her laughter
and I hear her tell another
the same lies she told me…

Soul… wandering in suffering,
come closer to her door
and beg her crying:
Listen… forgive me for asking
for crumbs of forgetfulness
that make you happy to be…
You taught me how to love and I have learned!
And having learned it
kills me with love…
And I, learning even how to hate you,
can only not learn
how to forget you.

That voice I hear again,
one day was mine,
and today from her is barely
the echo that lights up
my poor suffering soul,
that falls dying
at the foot of her balcony…
That voice I cursed,
today I hear promising another
the glory,
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

The lyrics of “Alma en pena” depict the sorrowful tale of a man grappling with the memory of a lost love, whose remembrance persists despite the passage of time. Narrating the emotional turmoil of seeing his former lover happy with someone else, the protagonist describes his anguish as he reads old, tear-stained letters, reminding him of the love he once had. As he stands by her door, he overhears her cheerful laughter and loving words to another, mirroring those once whispered to him, intensifying his feeling of betrayal and pain.



Symbolism of Alma en pena

The title itself, translating to “Soul in Pain,” captures the essence of the song. The imagery of “soul in pain” wandering near the loved one’s door symbolizes unrequited love and unending grief. The act of collecting “mendrugos del olvido,” or crumbs of forgetfulness, poetically portrays the protagonist’s struggle to piece together remnants of joy from a love that has long ceased to contribute positively to his life. The repeated references to crying and the descriptions of physical reactions to hearing her voice indicate an intense emotional suffering.



Alma en pena in historic Context

Recorded in 1946, “Alma en pena” emerged in post-World War II Argentina, a time of significant political and social changes. The nostalgic and sorrowful themes in the tango could reflect the broader societal sentiments of loss and transition. This period was marked by a mix of hope and uncertainty, much like the conflicted feelings the protagonist displays towards his past love and the process of moving on.



Francisco García Jiménez

Francisco García Jiménez was a renowned Argentine poet and lyricist, celebrated for his profound contributions to the genre of tango.