Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Cafetín de Buenos Aires

Cafetín de Buenos Aires is a Tango written by Mariano Mores and recorded by Osvaldo Fresedo in 1948. The Tango Cafetín de Buenos Aires is written by Mariano Mores, Osvaldo Fresedo has recorded Cafetín de Buenos Aires with the singer Osvaldo Cordo.
“Cafetín de Buenos Aires” translates to “Little Café of Buenos Aires.” This quaint café serves as a nostalgic refuge where the soul finds solace amidst the whispers of tango and the scent of freshly brewed coffee. It captures the essence of a bygone era, offering a humble sanctuary that reflects the heart and spirit of the city’s vibrant culture.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Fresedo

Orchestra

Osvaldo Cordo

Singer

Enrique Santos Discépolo

Author

Mariano Mores

Composer

1948/7/20

Date

Osvaldo Cordo
Osvaldo Cordo
Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo

Discover Other Orchestras

Ángel d’Agostino – Un lamento – 1942/7/15
Ángel d’Agostino – Tristeza criolla – 1945/10/2
Ángel d’Agostino – Barrio de tango – 1942/12/30
Ángel d’Agostino – No creas – 1943/3/23
Ángel d’Agostino – El trece – 1951/12/18
Aníbal Troilo – Una lágrima – 1949/4/30
Aníbal Troilo – A la parrilla – 1949/6/30
Aníbal Troilo – Milonga en negro – 1949/3/31
Aníbal Troilo – El africano – 1967/10/18
Aníbal Troilo – Canción de Ave María – 1965/9/24
Anibal Troilo – Volver – 1970/8/13
Anibal Troilo – El motivo (Pobre paica) – 1970/8/13
Florindo Sassone – Olé guapa – 1968/8/30
Florindo Sassone – Nina – 1974/1/1
Florindo Sassone – El llorón – 1970/4/28
Florindo Sassone – La tablada – 1966/3/10
Florindo Sassone – Un violin en la noche – 1974/1/1

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.

Cafetín de Buenos Aires recorded by other Orchestras

Cafetín de Buenos Aires recorded by other Orchestras

1948/7/20 – Volveras – Osvaldo Fresedo
1948/7/22 – La viruta – Rodolfo Biagi
1948/7/22 – Por la huella (Por la gueya) – Rodolfo Biagi
1948/7/23 – No te perdono mas – Alfredo De Angelis
1948/7/23 – Para ti madre – Alfredo De Angelis
Cafetin de Buenos Aires – 1948/7/8 – Anibal Troilo – Edmundo Rivero
Cafetin de Buenos Aires – 1967/5/15 – Miguel Calo – Alberto Marino
Cafetin de Buenos Aires – 1948/7/20 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Osvaldo Cordo
Cafetin de Buenos Aires – 1964/1/1 – Jose Basso – Hector De Rosas

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Cafetín de Buenos Aires

This is the translation of the Tango “Cafetín de Buenos Aires” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Cafetín de Buenos Aires” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Cafetín de Buenos Aires

De chiquilín te miraba de afuera
como a esas cosas que nunca se alcanzan…
La ñata contra el vidrio,
en un azul de frío,
que sólo fue después viviendo
igual al mío…
Como una escuela de todas las cosas,
ya de muchacho me diste entre asombros:
el cigarrillo,
la fe en mis sueños
y una esperanza de amor.

Cómo olvidarte en esta queja,
cafetín de Buenos Aires,
si sos lo único en la vida
que se pareció a mi vieja…
En tu mezcla milagrosa
de sabihondos y suicidas,
yo aprendí filosofía… dados… timba…
y la poesía cruel
de no pensar más en mí.

Me diste en oro un puñado de amigos,
que son los mismos que alientan mis horas:
(José, el de la quimera…
Marcial, que aún cree y espera…
y el flaco Abel que se nos fue
pero aún me guía….).
Sobre tus mesas que nunca preguntan
lloré una tarde el primer desengaño,
nací a las penas,
bebí mis años
y me entregué sin luchar.

English lyrics of the Tango "Cafetín de Buenos Aires"

As a kid, I watched you from outside
like those things that are never reached…
My nose against the glass,
in a cold blue,
which only later became
just like mine…
Like a school of all things,
as a boy you gave me, amazed:
the cigarette,
faith in my dreams
and a hope for love.

How to forget you in this lament,
little café of Buenos Aires,
if you’re the only thing in life
that resembled my mother…
In your miraculous mix
of wise guys and suicides,
I learned philosophy… dice… gambling…
and the cruel poetry
of not thinking about myself anymore.

You gave me in gold a handful of friends,
who are the same ones who cheer my hours:
(José, the dreamer…
Marcial, who still believes and waits…
and skinny Abel who left us
but still guides me…).
On your tables that never ask
I cried one afternoon my first disappointment,
I was born to sorrow,
I drank my years
and I surrendered without a fight.

Cafetín de Buenos Aires by Enrique Santos Discépolo

Cafetín de Buenos Aires is a Tango written by Enrique Santos Discépolo and composed by Mariano Mores.



Story behind the Tango Cafetín de Buenos Aires

The lyrics of “Cafetín de Buenos Aires” portray a nostalgic reflection of the author’s childhood memories and formative experiences within the simple yet profound walls of a small Buenos Aires café. This café, almost a character in its own right, is shown as a place of communal learning and emotional milestones. The narrator nostalgically recalls how from a young age, the café offered him life lessons ranging from his first cigarette to his first heartbreak, enveloped in a mix of wisdom and despair, crafting his journey into adulthood.



Symbolism of Cafetín de Buenos Aires

The café (cafetín) is employed as a powerful symbol of refuge and instruction—it’s where the narrator was exposed to the raw realities of life. The phrase “la fe en mis sueños” (faith in my dreams) coupled with “una esperanza de amor” (a hope for love) encapsulates the café as a place of both disillusionment and dreams. The blend of “sabihondos y suicidas” (wise men and suicides) symbolizes a confluence of intellectualism and despair, highlighting the café as a sanctuary for diverse personas to converge and share worldly wisdom.



Cafetín de Buenos Aires in Historic Context

Written in 1948, a period of significant political and social change in Argentina, “Cafetín de Buenos Aires” reflects the collective ethos of Buenos Aires’ society: its disillusionment, hopes, and daily survival. The tango serves as a social commentary subtly capturing the undercurrents of its time—the existential reflections during the post-war era, where cafes were not only places for leisure but also theaters of intellectual debates and emotional encounters. The café, thus, stands as a microcosm of Buenos Aires city life, showcasing the resilience and cultural dynamism of its people.



Enrique Santos Discépolo

Enrique Santos Discépolo was a renowned Argentinian musician, playwright, and composer, known for his profound and insightful contributions to the tango genre.