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Alma en pena

Alma en pena is a Tango written by Anselmo Aieta and recorded by Ricardo Tanturi in 1946. The Tango Alma en pena is written by Anselmo Aieta, Ricardo Tanturi has recorded Alma en pena with the singer Roberto Videla.
“Alma en pena,” translated as “Tormented Soul,” is a haunting melody that echoes the depths of longing and despair. The music weaves a tale of love lost and unfulfilled desires, painting a portrait of a heart caught in an eternal dance with sorrow. Each note is a whispered lament, resonating with the weight of unspoken grief.

Tango

Style

Ricardo Tanturi

Orchestra

Roberto Videla

Singer

Francisco García Jiménez

Author

Anselmo Aieta

Composer

1946/7/5

Date

Roberto Videla
Roberto Videla
Ricardo Tanturi
Ricardo Tanturi

Discover Other Orchestras

Osmar Maderna – Tarde gris – 1946/11/23
Osmar Maderna – Ojos negros – 1947/1/9
Osmar Maderna – Charamusca – 1949/7/21
Osmar Maderna – Chiqué – 1946/6/19
Osmar Maderna – Qué noche – 1949/9/29
Osvaldo Pugliese – Cafetin – 1947/3/27
Osvaldo Pugliese – Esta noche de luna – 1955/9/2
Osvaldo Pugliese – A los amigos – 1960/7/15
Osvaldo Pugliese – Quinto año – 1981/7/1
Osvaldo Pugliese – La cabrera – 1963/11/1
Edgardo Donato – Candombiando – 1930/1/1
Edgardo Donato – Sombras del ayer – 1936/9/10
Edgardo Donato – Che fayuto – 1930/1/1
Edgardo Donato – El huracán (b) – 1932/12/9
Edgardo Donato – Secreto de amor – 1936/5/7
LOS SEÑORES DEL TANGO – Milonguero viejo – 1962/10/8

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

1946/7/5 – Viviane de Paris – Ricardo Tanturi
1946/7/10 – Buen amigo – Anibal Troilo
1946/7/10 – Con mi perro – Rodolfo Biagi
1946/7/10 – Lucienne – Rodolfo Biagi
1946/7/11 – Que me van a hablar de amor – Anibal Troilo
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 carry away her memory,
to erase the tenderness
that her faded letters
hold written—
so often read
with tears that made them fade…
She truly forgot me!…
And today, in front of her door,
I hear her happy,
sense her laughter
and hear her tell another
the same lies
she told me…

Soul… wandering in sorrow,
draw near her door,
plead tearfully:
Listen… forgive me for asking
for crumbs of forgetting
that make you happy…
You taught me how to love, and I have learned!
And having learned it,
love kills me…
And I, who even learn to hate you,
just can’t learn
to forget you.

That voice I hear again,
once was mine,
and today, barely hers,
its echo lights up
my poor tormented soul,
falling dying
at her balcony…
That voice I cursed,
today I hear promising another
heaven,
and I close my eyes,
and it’s a charity
of love, that I pick up
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” (translated as “Soul in Pain”) narrate the story of a lingering and painful heartache that persists through time. The protagonist reflects on the undying memories and tender moments captured in withered letters, tainted by tears. Despite being forgotten, they remain haunted by the sound of their beloved’s laughter and confessions of love to another. This poignant tale encapsulates the essence of unrequited love and the torment of abandonment.



Symbolism of Alma en pena

The symbolism in “Alma en pena” is rich and evocative, drawing upon images of faded letters and a soul wandering in distress. The repeated references to “suplícale llorando” (begging while crying) and “mendrugos del olvido” (crumbs of oblivion) emphasize a deep yearning and the trivial sustenance the narrator clings to. Moreover, the metaphor of the soul as “moribunda” (moribund) at the beloved’s threshold illustrates the depth of suffering and the near-death state of the narrator’s spirit.



Alma en pena in historic Context

“Alma en pena” was written and recorded in Argentina in 1946, a period marked by significant political and social transitions. Post World War II, Argentina was experiencing a mix of hope and upheaval, which resonates in the song’s themes of love, betrayal, and emotional survival. The historical context likely amplifies the feelings of despair and nostalgia, characteristic of tango music, reflecting a collective sentiment of loss and longing that pervaded the era.



Francisco García Jiménez

Francisco García Jiménez was a renowned author and lyricist, known for his poignant and emotive contributions to the art of tango.