Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Cómo le digo a la vieja

Cómo le digo a la vieja is a Tango written by Miguel Caló and recorded by Francisco Rotundo in 1954. The Tango Cómo le digo a la vieja is written by Miguel Caló, Francisco Rotundo has recorded Cómo le digo a la vieja with the singer Floreal Ruiz.
“Cómo le digo a la vieja” translates to “How do I tell the old lady” in English. This evocative title suggests the tender struggle of breaking news to a loved one, perhaps a mother or grandmother, weaving a tale of vulnerability and love. The piece captures the dance between fear and affection, whispering emotions that words alone can scarcely convey.

Tango

Style

Francisco Rotundo

Orchestra

Floreal Ruiz

Singer

Reinaldo Yiso

Author

Miguel Caló

Composer

1954/7/8

Date

Floreal Ruiz
Floreal Ruiz
Francisco Rotundo
Francisco Rotundo

Discover Other Orchestras

Aníbal Troilo – Buenos Aires – 1965/12/30
Aníbal Troilo – Tango del colectivo – 1968/12/11
Aníbal Troilo – El último guapo – 1966/4/13
Aníbal Troilo – Responso – 1963/4/5
Aníbal Troilo – Cotorrita de la suerte – 1945/6/28
Rodolfo Biagi – Pájaro ciego – 1941/1/14
Rodolfo Biagi – Zaraza – 1941/3/26
Rodolfo Biagi – Ayudame – 1960/7/28
Rodolfo Biagi – Seamos amigos – 1944/9/15
Rodolfo Biagi – Por un beso de amor (Per un bacio d’amor) – 1940/10/4
Francisco Rotundo – Al pie de la Santa Cruz – 1949/1/1
Francisco Rotundo – Para florearse – 1954/11/16
Francisco Rotundo – Levanta la frente – 1953/4/6
Francisco Rotundo – Siempre tu voz – 1955/5/2
Francisco Rotundo – Bien bohemio – 1954/4/12
Roberto Firpo – Te fuiste ja ja – 1929/2/6
Roberto Firpo – Que bailen
canejo – 1930/10/23
Roberto Firpo – Cuándo volverás – 1927/5/27
Roberto Firpo – Petit gris – 1943/4/27
Roberto Firpo – Tuve una muñeca – 1931/7/2

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.

Cómo le digo a la vieja recorded by other Orchestras

Cómo le digo a la vieja recorded by other Orchestras

1954/7/8 – Mala suerte – Francisco Rotundo
1954/7/6 – Cuando talla un bandoneon – Francini-Pontier
1954/7/6 – Lo que vendra – Francini-Pontier
1954/7/14 – A la luz del candil – Osvaldo Pugliese
1954/7/14 – La guitarrita – Osvaldo Pugliese
Como le digo a la vieja – 1954/6/15 – Miguel Calo – Alberto Podesta
Como le digo a la vieja – 1954/7/8 – Francisco Rotundo – Floreal Ruiz

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Cómo le digo a la vieja

This is the translation of the Tango “Cómo le digo a la vieja” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Cómo le digo a la vieja” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Cómo le digo a la vieja

Estoy a un solo paso de la muerte,

yo sé que se aproxima mi final.

Por eso, hermano mío, vine a verte,

por ella, por la vieja, nada más.

Por ella, vos sabes que yo he dejado

de mi vida que hoy se apaga lo mejor,

en cuidarla con amor sólo he pensado

y a todo lo demás cerré mi corazón.



¡Hermano!

Por mimarla o por cuidarla

yo nunca supe de farras,

ni de amigos de café.

¡Por ella!

Por estar siempre a su lado

yo ya estaba bien pagado,

no quería nada más.

¡Hermano!

Quise gritarle mil veces

que ya estoy en el final.

Y el corazón no me deja:

¿Cómo le digo a la vieja,

que no ha de verme jamás?



Hermano estás llorando y te avergüenzas,

los hombres también lloran, ¿no me ves?

Tus lágrimas me dicen que la vieja

tendrá tu corazón, tendrá tu fe.

Que vos la cuidaras como hasta ahora,

con mi cariño grande, la cuidé.

Dejame que te apriete entre mis brazos.

Tranquilo, ya me voy, hermano no llorés.

English lyrics of the Tango "Cómo le digo a la vieja"

I’m just one step away from death,
I know my end is near.
That’s why, my brother, I came to see you,
for her, for the old lady, nothing more.

For her, you know I have left
the best of my fading life,
thinking only of caring for her with love
and to everything else, I closed my heart.

Brother!
To pamper or to care for her,
I never knew of revelries,
nor of cafe friends.
For her!
To be always by her side,
I was well rewarded,
I wanted nothing more.
Brother!
I wanted to shout a thousand times
that I’m at my end.
And my heart won’t let me:
How do I tell the old lady,
that she will never see me again?

Brother, you’re crying and you’re ashamed,
men also cry, don’t you see?
Your tears tell me that the old lady
will have your heart, will have your faith.
That you will care for her as until now,
with my great love, I cared.
Let me hold you tight in my arms.
Calm, I’m leaving now, brother don’t cry.

Cómo le digo a la vieja by Reinaldo Yiso

Cómo le digo a la vieja is a Tango written by Reinaldo Yiso and composed by Miguel Caló.



Story behind the Tango Cómo le digo a la vieja

“Cómo le digo a la vieja” narrates the poignant tale of a dying man grappling with how to bid farewell to his elderly mother, referred to affectionately as “la vieja.” As the narrator acknowledges his impending death, he reflects on the sacrifices he has made to care for his mother, eschewing personal pleasures and friendships. The primary themes revolve around duty, familial love, and the impending final separation. Emotionally heavy, this tango explores devotion, the weight of unspoken words, and the pain of inevitable loss.



Symbolism of Cómo le digo a la vieja

The tango is rich with symbolic language that enhances its emotional impact. Phrases like “Estoy a un solo paso de la muerte,” signify the closeness of death, emphasizing the narrator’s urgent need to convey his thoughts and feelings. His decision to forgo “farras” (partying) and “amigos de café” (casual friends) symbolizes a life of sacrifice made out of deep love and responsibility towards his mother. The repeated interjection “¡Hermano!” not only addresses his brother but also appeals to a universal brotherhood, seeking empathy and understanding. The heart is used as a symbol of emotional capacity, portraying the narrator’s struggle as he contemplates revealing his fate to his mother.



Cómo le digo a la vieja in historic Context

Recorded in 1954, “Cómo le digo a la vieja” emerges from a period in Argentine history marked by social and political changes. Post World War II, Argentina faced significant shifts impacting family structures and societal roles. The tango, then a national cultural staple, commonly reflected personal narratives against broader societal backdrops, making this tango both a personal lament and a reflection of the collective emotional undertones of its time. The song’s focus on personal sacrifice and familial duty might resonate deeply in a society navigating the complexities of modernization and changing familial obligations.



Reinaldo Yiso

Reinaldo Yiso was a renowned Argentine lyricist known for his poignant contributions to the Tango music genre.