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De barro

De barro is a Tango written by Sebastián Piana and recorded by Miguel Caló in 1943. The Tango De barro is written by Sebastián Piana, Miguel Caló has recorded De barro with the singer Jorge Ortiz.
“De barro,” meaning “Of Clay” in English, is a soulful musical piece that molds emotions into melodies. Like the humble clay crafted by skilled hands, this music shapes a narrative of resilience and transformation. Each note resonates with the earth’s raw essence, reminding us of the strength and fragility interwoven in our shared human experience.

Tango

Style

Miguel Caló

Orchestra

Jorge Ortiz

Singer

Homero Manzi

Author

Sebastián Piana

Composer

1943/5/15

Date

Jorge Ortiz
Jorge Ortiz
Miguel Caló
Miguel Caló

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De barro recorded by other Orchestras

De barro recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango De barro

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

Letra del Tango De barro

Estoy mirando mi vida

en el cristal de un charquito

y pasan mientras medito

las horas perdidas,

los sueños marchitos.



Y están tus ojos queridos

en el espejo de barro,

fantasma de mi cigarro,

reproche y olvido,

condena y perdón.



Vuelven tus ojos lejanos

con el llanto de aquel día.

Pensar que puse en tus manos

una culpa que era mía.

Pensar que no te llamé

y me alegré

mientras estabas penando,

pensar que no te seguí

y me reí

cuando te fuiste llorando.



Y hoy que no vale mi vida

ni este pucho del cigarro,

recién sé que son de barro

el desprecio y el rencor.



Así midiendo tu pena

noches y noches consumo

buscando ver en el humo

del pucho que fumo

tu imagen serena.

Y al encontrarte perdida

entre cigarro y cigarro,

sé que fue todo de barro,

de barro mi vida,

de barro mi amor.

English lyrics of the Tango "De barro"

I’m looking at my life

through the glass of a small puddle

and as I ponder,

the lost hours pass,

the withered dreams.



And there are your beloved eyes

in the mud mirror,

phantom of my cigarette,

reproach and forgetting,

condemnation and forgiveness.



Your distant eyes return

with the tears of that day.

To think I placed in your hands

a fault that was mine.

To think I didn’t call you

and I was glad

while you were suffering,

to think I didn’t follow you

and I laughed

when you left crying.



And now that my life is worthless

nor this stub of a cigarette,

I just know that scorn and bitterness

are made of clay.



So measuring your sorrow

night after night I consume,

seeking to see in the smoke

of the cigarette I smoke

your serene image.

And to find you lost

between cigarette and cigarette,

I know that everything was made of clay,

my life was made of clay,

my love was made of clay.

De barro by Homero Manzi

De barro is a Tango written by Homero Manzi and composed by Sebastián Piana.

Story behind the Tango De barro

“De barro” (Made of Clay) poignantly explores themes of reflection, regret, and the ephemeral nature of life and relationships. The lyricist uses the metaphor of staring at one’s life in the reflection of a puddle, suggesting a moment of introspection and the transient, muddy clarity that life sometimes offers. This reflection includes “lost hours” and “withered dreams,” pointing to a past filled with missed opportunities and unfulfilled desires. The presence and reappearance of a beloved’s eyes in this muddy mirror drive the narrator to confront his past actions, filled with neglect and heartache.

Symbolism of De barro

The recurring image of “el espejo de barro” (mirror of clay) symbolizes the murky, unclear perceptions we have of our lives and actions. Clay, being a natural and malleable material, symbolizes how our perceptions and memories can be shaped and reshaped, but also how they can be fragile and easily marred. The “fantasma de mi cigarro” (ghost of my cigarette) further enhances the theme of impermanence and the hazy, smoke-filled filter through which the narrator views his past actions and their consequences on his lost love. The contrast between the physical presence of the cigarette and its ephemeral smoke mirrors the tangible yet fleeting nature of human emotions and relationships.

De barro in historic Context

“De barro” was penned in 1943, a time when Argentina was experiencing significant political and social changes that could influence its poignant reflection on personal mistakes and societal values regarding responsibility and remorse. The tango, a dance intimately connected with expressions of passion, sorrow, and sometimes defiance, serves as a perfect vehicle for Manzi’s introspective lyrics. It was a period marked by the rise of Peronism, and the themes of introspection and regret in the tango could be reflecting a broader societal need for introspection and addressing past injustices or failures.

Homero Manzi

Homero Manzi was a prominent Argentine lyricist, famed for his poignant and evocative lyrics that are often infused with deep sentimentality and reflection on human emotions and social issues.