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Cuesta abajo

Cuesta abajo is a Tango written by Carlos Gardel and recorded by José Basso in 1953. The Tango Cuesta abajo is written by Carlos Gardel, José Basso has recorded Cuesta abajo with the singer Rodolfo Galé.
“Cuesta abajo,” or “Downhill,” captures the melancholic descent of life’s journey, as the tango notes weave a tapestry of nostalgia. In this musical landscape, each note echoes the bittersweet passage of time, signaling dreams once vibrant, now fading into the shadows. It is a reflection on the inevitability of decline, yet a testament to the beauty found within life’s fleeting moments.

Tango

Style

José Basso

Orchestra

Rodolfo Galé

Singer

Alfredo Le Pera

Author

Carlos Gardel

Composer

1953/12/9

Date

Rodolfo Galé
Rodolfo Galé
José Basso
José Basso

Discover Other Orchestras

José De Alto (Dir. José Basso) – Rosicler – 1959/9/14
José De Alto (Dir. José Basso) – Milonguita (Esthercita) – 1959/9/14
José De Alto (Dir. José Basso) – Nunca tuvo novio – 1959/9/14
José De Alto (Dir. José Basso) – Yo no sé por qué te quiero – 1959/9/14
Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna – Aquellas cartas – 1959/7/8
Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna – Yo te bendigo – 1959/8/18
Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna – Mi poncho tucumano – 1959/8/18
Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna – Brindis para la navidad – 1960/10/14
Orquesta Símbolo Osmar Maderna – Fantasía en tango (Sobre motivos de Brahms) – 1958/9/24
Rodolfo Biagi – El Yaguarón – 1940/6/19
Rodolfo Biagi – Alguien – 1956/3/24
Rodolfo Biagi – Bailarina de tango – 1951/7/30
Rodolfo Biagi – El carretón – 1927/8/22
Rodolfo Biagi – Mañana por la mañana – 1946/12/30
Orquesta Típica Victor – Te felicito – 1928/4/9
Orquesta Típica Victor – El gringo Don Fermin – 1931/6/9
Orquesta Típica Victor – Tesorito (2) – 1925/11/30
Orquesta Típica Victor – Sin amparo – 1932/7/26
Orquesta Típica Victor – Romántica – 1938/5/10

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.

Cuesta abajo recorded by other Orchestras

Cuesta abajo recorded by other Orchestras

1953/12/9 – Patoteros – Jose Basso
1953/12/9 – Pena copa y tango – Jose Basso
1953/12/9 – Sabado ingles – Jose Basso
1953/12/7 – Vision – Alfredo De Angelis
1953/12/7 – Volvamos a empezar – Alfredo De Angelis
Cuesta abajo – 1963/6/17 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Instrumental
Cuesta abajo – 1953/12/9 – Jose Basso – Rodolfo Gale
Cuesta abajo – 1975/1/1 – Hector Varela – Fernando Soler

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Cuesta abajo

This is the translation of the Tango “Cuesta abajo” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Cuesta abajo” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Cuesta abajo

Si arrastré por este mundo
la vergüenza de haber sido
y el dolor de ya no ser.
Bajo el ala del sombrero
cuantas veces, embozada,
una lágrima asomada
yo no pude contener…
Si crucé por los caminos
como un paria que el destino
se empeñó en deshacer;
si fui flojo, si fui ciego,
sólo quiero que hoy comprendan
el valor que representa
el coraje de querer.

Era, para mí, la vida entera,
como un sol de primavera,
mi esperanza y mi pasión.
Sabía que en el mundo no cabía
toda la humilde alegría
de mi pobre corazón.
Ahora, cuesta abajo en mi rodada,
las ilusiones pasadas
yo no las puedo arrancar.
Sueño con el pasado que añoro,
el tiempo viejo que lloro
y que nunca volverá.

Por seguir tras de su huella
yo bebí incansablemente
en mi copa de dolor,
pero nadie comprendía
que, si todo yo lo daba
en cada vuelta dejaba
pedazos de corazón.
Ahora, triste, en la pendiente,
solitario y ya vencido
yo me quiero confesar:
si aquella boca mentía
el amor que me ofrecía,
por aquellos ojos brujos
yo habría dado siempre más.

English lyrics of the Tango "Cuesta abajo"

If I dragged through this world
the shame of having been
and the pain of no longer being.
Under the brim of the hat
how many times, disguised,
a tear emerged
I could not contain…
If I crossed the paths
like a pariah that fate
insisted on breaking;
if I was weak, if I was blind,
I just want them to understand today
the value that represents
the courage to love.

For me, life was entirely,
like a spring sun,
my hope and my passion.
I knew that the world could not contain
all the humble joy
of my poor heart.
Now, downhill in my tumble,
the past illusions
I cannot tear away.
I dream of the past I miss,
the old time I cry for
and that will never return.

By following in its footsteps
I drank tirelessly
from my cup of sorrow,
but no one understood
that, if I gave my all,
on each turn I left
pieces of heart.
Now, sad, on the slope,
alone and defeated
I want to confess:
if that mouth lied
about the love it offered me,
for those bewitching eyes
I would have always given more.

Cuesta abajo by Alfredo Le Pera

Cuesta abajo is a Tango written by Alfredo Le Pera and composed by Carlos Gardel.



Story behind the Tango Cuesta abajo

The lyrics of “Cuesta abajo” reflect a poignant narrative of personal downfall and the reminiscing of better days. The narrator vividly expresses the shame of past failures (“la vergüenza de haber sido”) and the pain of no longer possessing former glory (“el dolor de ya no ser”). These lines poignantly encapsulate the speaker’s journey through a life marred by missteps and loss. The recurring theme of rejection by fate (“como un paria que el destino se empeñó en deshacer”) further intensifies this sense of inexorable decline. This tango tells a story of lost love, regret, and the irreversible flow of time, showcased by the haunting refrain of cherished dreams now unreachable (“el tiempo viejo que lloro y que nunca volverá”).



Symbolism of Cuesta abajo

The lyrics are rich with symbolic resonance, enhancing the emotional depth of the song. Notably, the “sombra del sombrero” represents concealment of sorrow, where the narrator hides his tears under the brim of his hat, metaphorically suggesting a life lived in the shadows of past happier times. The consistent imagery of a downward slope (“cuesta abajo en mi rodada”) symbolizes the narrator’s unavoidable descent into despair and solitude, driven by his unyielding attachment to a past romance. Additionally, the shattered illusions represented by “las ilusiones pasadas yo no las puedo arrancar” illustrate the lingering pain of disillusionment that cannot be easily detached from one’s psyche.



Cuesta abajo in historic Context

Released in mid-20th century Argentina, “Cuesta abajo” emerged during a period marked by political instability and social upheaval. This historical backdrop adds layers to the tango’s themes of lost hope and deep melancholy. The genre of tango itself, often associated with expressions of unfulfilled desires and melancholic life reflections, resonates deeply in the Argentinian cultural context where sentimentality and nostalgia palpably intermingle with daily experiences. The song taps into universal emotions of heartbreak and the persistent grip of memory – concerns that transcend specific historical moments yet are accentuated by the era’s turbulent ambiance.



Alfredo Le Pera

Alfredo Le Pera was a prominent Argentine journalist, dramatist, and lyricist, best known for his collaborations with iconic tango singer Carlos Gardel.