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Arrabal amargo

Arrabal amargo is a Tango written by Carlos Gardel and recorded by Osvaldo Fresedo in 1935. The Tango Arrabal amargo is written by Carlos Gardel, Osvaldo Fresedo has recorded Arrabal amargo with the singer Roberto Ray.
“Arrabal amargo,” translated to English as “Bitter Suburb,” evokes the melancholy of forgotten streets where dreams linger in shadows. This piece of music paints a vivid picture of a once-vibrant neighborhood, now tinged with nostalgia and unfulfilled promises. It speaks to the heartache of time’s passage, capturing the essence of longing and the bittersweet nature of memories.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Fresedo

Orchestra

Roberto Ray

Singer

Alfredo Le Pera

Author

Carlos Gardel

Composer

1935/8/23

Date

Roberto Ray
Roberto Ray
Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo

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Cuarteto Aníbal TROILO – Milonguero triste – 1969/7/30
Cuarteto Aníbal TROILO – La cumparsita – 1968/9/11
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Enrique Rodríguez – Expresión campera – 1942/7/30
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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.

Arrabal amargo recorded by other Orchestras

Arrabal amargo recorded by other Orchestras

1935/8/23 – Ha-cha-cha – Osvaldo Fresedo
1935/8/28 – Dona Maribiga – Edgardo Donato
1935/8/28 – El zorzal – Edgardo Donato
1935/8/9 – Aleluya (3) – Edgardo Donato
1935/8/9 – Lejana tierra mia – Edgardo Donato
Arrabal amargo – 1935/8/23 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Roberto Ray
Arrabal amargo – 1968/9/17 – Armando Pontier – Roberto Goyeneche

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Arrabal amargo

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

Letra del Tango Arrabal amargo

Arrabal amargo,
metido en mi vida,
como la condena
de una maldición.
Tus sombras torturan
mis horas sin sueño,
tu noche se encierra
en mi corazón.
Con ella a mi lado
no vi tus tristezas,
tu barro y miserias,
ella era mi luz.
Y ahora, vencido,
arrastro mi alma,
clavao a tus calles
igual que a una cruz.

Rinconcito arrabalero,
con el toldo de estrellas
de tu patio que quiero.
Todo, todo se ilumina,
cuando ella vuelve a verte
y mis viejas madreselvas
están en flor para quererte.

Como una nube que pasa
mis ensueños se van,
se van, no vuelven más.

No digas a nadie
que ya no me quieres.
Si a mí me preguntan
diré que vendrás.
Y así cuando vuelvas,
mi alma, te juro,
los ojos extraños
no se asombrarán.
Verás cómo todo
te esperaba ansioso:
mi blanca casita
y el viejo rosal…
Y cómo de nuevo
alivia sus penas
vestido de fiesta
mi viejo arrabal.

English lyrics of the Tango "Arrabal amargo"

Bitter suburb,
deep in my life,
like the sentence
of a curse.
Your shadows torment
my sleepless hours,
your night is locked
in my heart.
With her by my side
I didn’t see your sorrows,
your mud and misery,
she was my light.
And now, defeated,
I drag my soul,
nailed to your streets
just like to a cross.

Little corner of the suburb,
with the awning of stars
from your patio that I love.
Everything, everything lights up,
when she comes back to see you
and my old honeysuckles
are in bloom to love you.

Like a passing cloud
my dreams go away,
they go, they don’t come back.

Do not tell anyone
that you no longer love me.
If they ask me
I’ll say you’ll come.
And so when you return,
my soul, I swear,
strange eyes
will not be amazed.
You’ll see how everything
was eagerly waiting for you:
my white little house
and the old rosebush…
And how once again
it eases its sorrows
dressed in celebration
my old suburb.

Arrabal amargo by Alfredo Le Pera

Arrabal amargo is a Tango written by Alfredo Le Pera and composed by Carlos Gardel.

Story behind the Tango Arrabal amargo

Arrabal amargo,” which translates in English as “Bitter Suburb,” portrays the profound and visceral connection between the narrator and the impoverished, sorrowful neighborhood of his past. The lyrics delve into the themes of nostalgia, loss, and a longing for the return of a loved one, juxtaposed against the backdrop of an urban landscape filled with poverty but also with intimate familiarity and deep personal history. The bitter suburb has shaped the narrator’s life, almost as an inescapable curse that molds his present suffering and affliction.



Symbolism of Arrabal amargo

The song is heavy with symbolism, using the physical environment of the “arrabal” (suburb or slum) to mirror the emotional landscape. Phrases like “Tus sombras torturan mis horas sin sueño,” meaning “Your shadows torture my sleepless hours,” indicate how the memories of the place and its darkness haunt the narrator. The personalization of the suburb with phrases such as “tu noche se encierra en mi corazón” (your night is locked in my heart) suggests that the suburb and its experiences are inseparable from the narrator’s identity. This convergence of place and emotion underscores the inextricable link between personal history and geographical origins.



Arrabal amargo in historic Context

Written and recorded in 1935 by Alfredo Le Pera and Carlos Gardel, “Arrabal amargo” emerges from a period when tango music often reflected the social and economic climates of suburban Buenos Aires. The 1930s in Argentina were marked by political upheaval and economic difficulties, influences likely reflected in the music and cultural expressions of the time. This song encapsulates the challenges faced by the less affluent, showcasing the contrast between the harsh realities of struggling neighborhoods and the personal and communal bonds that these conditions can forge.



Alfredo Le Pera

Alfredo Le Pera was a prominent Argentine lyricist and journalist known for his collaborations with the legendary tango composer and singer Carlos Gardel. Together, they created some of the most iconic songs in the history of tango.