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Chiquilín de Bachín

Chiquilín de Bachín is a Vals written by Astor Piazzolla and recorded by Astor Piazzolla in 1969. The Vals Chiquilín de Bachín is written by Astor Piazzolla, Astor Piazzolla has recorded Chiquilín de Bachín with the singer Roberto Goyeneche.
“Chiquilín de Bachín,” or “Little Boy of Bachín,” captures a poignant glimpse into the life of a street child, set against the backdrop of a bustling café. This evocative tango tells the story of innocence and resilience, encapsulating the boy’s dreams mingling with the harsh realities of his world. Through its melodies, it paints a tender yet haunting portrait of childhood amidst the clamor of everyday life.

Vals

Style

Astor Piazzolla

Orchestra

Roberto Goyeneche

Singer

Horacio Ferrer

Author

Astor Piazzolla

Composer

1969/12/4

Date

Roberto Goyeneche
Roberto Goyeneche
Astor Piazzolla
Astor Piazzolla

Discover Other Orchestras

Lucio Demare – El chupete – 1942/10/9
Lucio Demare – Dos palabras por favor – 1943/10/13
Lucio Demare – Luna – 1957/1/1
Lucio Demare – Milonga en rojo – 1942/9/3
Lucio Demare – La calle sin sueño – 1957/1/1
Alfredo De Angelis – Que será corazón – 1958/7/25
Alfredo De Angelis – Soy un arlequín – 1945/9/11
Alfredo De Angelis – Incomparable – 1957/9/5
Alfredo De Angelis – A la criolla – 1961/8/15
Alfredo De Angelis – Por eso grito – 1945/8/10
Ricardo Malerba – Cuando florezcan las rosas – 1943/6/10
Ricardo Malerba – Encuentro – 1944/10/16
Ricardo Malerba – Taruchito – 1957/1/7
Ricardo Malerba – Triste revelacion – 1944/6/30
Ricardo Malerba – Bailarina – 1958/1/1
Cuarteto Aníbal TROILO – La última curda – 1969/7/30
Cuarteto Aníbal TROILO – La tablada – 1968/8/5
Cuarteto Aníbal TROILO – Pablo – 1968/8/5
Cuarteto Aníbal TROILO – La trampera – 1969/7/30
Cuarteto Aníbal TROILO – A Pedro Maffia – 1968/9/11

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.

Chiquilín de Bachín recorded by other Orchestras

Chiquilín de Bachín recorded by other Orchestras

1969/12/4 – Balada para un loco – Astor Piazzolla
1970/1/1 – El recodo – Osvaldo Pugliese
1970/1/1 – Shusheta (El aristocrata) – Osvaldo Pugliese
1970/1/1 – A la gran muneca – Jose Basso
1970/1/1 – Canaro en Paris – Jose Basso
Chiquilin de Bachin – 1982/5/30 – Astor Piazzolla – Roberto Goyeneche
Chiquilin de Bachin – 1969/12/4 – Astor Piazzolla – Roberto Goyeneche

Lyrics Translation of the Vals Chiquilín de Bachín

This is the translation of the Vals “Chiquilín de Bachín” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Vals “Chiquilín de Bachín” have been done with AI.

Letra del Vals Chiquilín de Bachín

Por las noches, cara sucia

de angelito con bluyín,

vende rosas por las mesas

del boliche de Bachín.



Si la luna brilla

sobre la parrilla,

come luna y pan de hollín.



Cada día en su tristeza

que no quiere amanecer,

lo madruga un seis de enero

con la estrella del revés,

y tres reyes gatos

roban sus zapatos,

uno izquierdo y el otro ¡también!



Chiquilín,

dame un ramo de voz,

así salgo a vender

mis vergüenzas en flor.

Baleáme con tres rosas

que duelan a cuenta

del hambre que no te entendí,

Chiquilín.



Cuando el sol pone a los pibes

delantales de aprender,

él aprende cuánto cero

le quedaba por saber.

Y a su madre mira,

yira que te yira,

pero no la quiere ver.



Cada aurora, en la basura,

con un pan y un tallarín,

se fabrica un barrilete

para irse ¡y sigue aquí!

Es un hombre extraño,

niño de mil años,

que por dentro le enreda el piolín.



Chiquilín,

dame un ramo de voz,

así salgo a vender

mis vergüenzas en flor.

Baleáme con tres rosas

que duelan a cuenta

del hambre que no te entendí,

Chiquilín.

English lyrics of the Vals "Chiquilín de Bachín"

At night, dirty face
of an angel in jeans,
he sells roses at the tables
of Bachín’s dive.

If the moon shines
over the grill,
he eats moon and sooty bread.

Each day in his sadness
that doesn’t want to dawn,
a January sixth catches him early
with the upside-down star,
and three stray kings
steal his shoes,
one left and the other, too!

Little boy,
give me a bouquet of your voice,
so I can go out to sell
my shames in bloom.
Shoot me with three roses
that hurt on account
of the hunger I didn’t understand,
Little boy.

When the sun dresses the kids
in aprons of learning,
he learns how many zeros
he still has to know.
And he looks at his mother,
turns and turns,
but he does not want to see her.

Every dawn, in the trash,
with some bread and noodles,
he makes himself a kite
to leave—and yet he’s still here!
He’s a strange man,
a thousand-year-old child,
who inside is tangled up in string.

Little boy,
give me a bouquet of your voice,
so I can go out to sell
my shames in bloom.
Shoot me with three roses
that hurt on account
of the hunger I didn’t understand,
Little boy.

Chiquilín de Bachín by Horacio Ferrer

Chiquilín de Bachín is a Tango written by Horacio Ferrer and composed by Astor Piazzolla.



Story behind the Tango Chiquilín de Bachín

The song “Chiquilín de Bachín” evokes a poignant narrative of a young street boy, known as Chiquilín, who sells roses in a small bar named Bachín during the nights. Horacio Ferrer masterfully weaves a story of survival and resilience, portraying Chiquilín’s daily hardships through vivid, emotive imagery. The boy, depicted as having the “dirty face of a little angel in jeans,” symbolizes innocence tarnished by the hardships of street life. This boy’s life is marked by constant struggle, from being deprived of basic needs to the emotional neglect from a society that barely acknowledges his existence.



Symbolism of Chiquilín de Bachín

The rose in “Chiquilín de Bachín” symbolizes both beauty and survival—despite the harsh realities Chiquilín faces, he carries the beauty of roses, attempting to sell not just the flowers, but, metaphorically, his dignity (“mis vergüenzas en flor”). The consistent use of night and day imagery highlights the cyclic and unending nature of Chiquilín’s struggle, with nights at Bachín’s bar and the dawn bringing no relief but continued hardship. Ferrer’s phrase, “Baleáme con tres rosas que duelan a cuenta del hambre que no te entendí,” metaphorically implores for a reprieve through the pain of understanding his hunger—a piercing plea for empathy and action.



Chiquilín de Bachín in Historic Context

Created in 1969, during a time of political and social unrest in Argentina, “Chiquilín de Bachín” reflects the overlooked burdens of the marginalized. It was a period where urban poverty was widespread, mirroring the neglect and invisibility felt by street children similar to Chiquilín. The tango serves not only as a narrative of individual struggle but also as a social commentary on the era’s socio-economic conditions, urging an acknowledgment of those usually ignored by society.



Horacio Ferrer

Horacio Ferrer was a renowned Uruguayan poet and tango lyricist, best known for his collaborations with composer Astor Piazzolla. His works are celebrated for their rich narratives and intricate portrayals of urban life.