Cuando tallan los recuerdos by Enrique Cadícamo

Cuando tallan los recuerdos is a tango written by Enrique Cadícamo and composed by Rafael Rossi.

Story behind the Tango Cuando tallan los recuerdos

The lyrics of “Cuando tallan los recuerdos” unfold the somber reminiscences of a bygone era, as narrated by a protagonist immersed in melancholy. Set against the backdrop of a rainy suburb, the narrator finds himself alone in a room, haunted by memories that pain and emotion gradually resurrect. The central object, a bandoneón (a type of concertina particularly popular in Argentina and Uruguay), once vibrant and full of life, now silent and forgotten, serves as a symbol of past glories and personal decline. This bandoneón becomes a relic of past emotions and experiences, entwining the narrator’s current feelings of sorrow and nostalgia.

Symbolism of Cuando tallan los recuerdos

Enrique Cadícamo employs powerful symbols such as the rain and the bandoneón to amplify the emotional gravity of reminiscence. Rain traditionally symbolizes renewal or sadness and here intensifies the feeling of melancholic introspection. The bandoneón, instrumental in creating tango music, symbolizes the narrator’s own emotional expressions and experiences which are now muted, just like the forgotten keys of the instrument. Phrases like “esta tarde tengo ganas, muchas ganas de llorar” (this afternoon I feel like, much like crying) directly translate the overwhelming sense of loss and longing for days past — where the music and life were at their peak.

Cuando tallan los recuerdos in historic Context

Cuando tallan los recuerdos was composed during 1943, a period significant in Argentina for its political and social turbulence preceding the rise of Juan Domingo Perón. It was also a golden age for tango, which deeply reflected the socio-cultural aspects of Argentine life. The nostalgia and sorrow embedded in the lyrics resonate with the pervasive sense of unsettlement during this era. Moreover, the reference to personal and collective memory through the melancholic lens might suggest a broader commentary on Argentine society’s yearning for better, more stable times amidst contemporary upheavals.

Enrique Cadícamo

Enrique Cadícamo was a prolific Argentine lyricist and poet, whose contributions to the tango genre have been foundational and enduring. His works are celebrated for their lyrical richness and profound emotional depth.