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Cafetín de Buenos Aires

Cafetín de Buenos Aires is a Tango written by Mariano Mores and recorded by Miguel Caló in 1967. The Tango Cafetín de Buenos Aires is written by Mariano Mores, Miguel Caló has recorded Cafetín de Buenos Aires with the singer Alberto Marino.
“Cafetín de Buenos Aires,” or “Little Café of Buenos Aires,” evokes a place where time lingers over the clinking of glasses and the gentle hum of conversations. It whispers of nostalgia, capturing the essence of a bygone era where hearts danced to the rhythm of life. Within its walls, stories unfold, each tale steeped in the bittersweet melodies of the city.

Tango

Style

Miguel Caló

Orchestra

Alberto Marino

Singer

Enrique Santos Discépolo

Author

Mariano Mores

Composer

1967/5/15

Date

 Alberto Marino
Alberto Marino
Miguel Caló
Miguel Caló

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Cafetín de Buenos Aires recorded by other Orchestras

Cafetín de Buenos Aires recorded by other Orchestras

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"

From childhood, I looked at you from outside

like those things that are never reached…

My nose against the glass,

in a blue of cold,

that was only afterwards lived

just like mine…

Like a school of all things,

as a boy, you amazed me with:

the cigarette,

faith in my dreams

and a hope for love.

How can I 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 no longer thinking of myself.

You gave me in gold a handful of friends,

who are the same ones who cheer my hours:

(Jose, the dreamer…

Marcial, who still believes and hopes…

and skinny Abel who left us

but still guides me…).

On your tables which never ask,

I cried one afternoon the first disappointment,

I was born to sorrows,

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

“Cafetín de Buenos Aires” captures the nostalgic essence of Buenos Aires’s small cafes or “cafetines”, which serve as pivotal social hubs. The lyrics delve into the narrator’s memories of growing up with dreams shaped in the modest yet vibrant atmosphere of these cafetines. With a poignant tone, Discépolo recounts learning about life’s harsh realities and joys in these spaces, symbolizing both personal refuge and collective memory.
In the lyrics, Discépolo reminisces about looking from outside as a child—at things that seemed unattainable—and traces his journey of learning and experiencing life, surrounded by philosophers and dreamers who frequented these establishments. The cafetín becomes a sanctuary that provided him not just with physical sustenance but with life lessons and friendships.



Symbolism of Cafetín de Buenos Aires

The cafetin itself symbolizes a nurturing mother, an emblematic figure that offered compassion and learning. When Discépolo draws the parallel between the cafetín and his mother, saying it is the only thing in life resembling her, it highlights the profound emotional connection and sense of belonging these establishments fostered in their patrons. Phrases like “en tu mezcla milagrosa de sabihondos y suicidas, yo aprendí filosofía…” (in your miraculous mix of wise men and suicides, I learned philosophy…) underline the depth of experiences and the spectrum of narratives found within its walls. The cafetin is not just a physical space but a complex symbol of community, learning, and refuge embedded in the Argentine psyche.



Cafetín de Buenos Aires in Historic Context

“Cafetín de Buenos Aires” emerged at a time in Argentine history when society faced numerous political and social transformations. Recorded in 1967, during a backdrop of political unrest and cultural shifts, the tango evokes a yearning for simpler, more stable times. Cafetines, as settings for informal discussions and philosophical debates, represented mini-cultural havens that contrasted sharply with the turbulence outside. The streets and personalities mentioned—such as José, Marcial, and Abel—could be real individuals or archetypes representing the regular patrons whose stories permeate through these local joints, adding to the song’s depth and cultural relevancy.



Enrique Santos Discépolo

Enrique Santos Discépolo was an iconic Argentine musician, playwright, and composer, who is renowned for his poignant and influential tangos that often captured the socio-political undercurrents of his times.
In works like “Cafetín de Buenos Aires”, his mastery in weaving complex emotions with socio-cultural narratives shines through, making him a beloved figure in Argentine cultural history.