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El abrojito

El abrojito is a Tango written by Luis Bernstein and recorded by Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) in 1964. Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) has recorded El abrojito as an instrumental Tango.
“El Abrojito,” meaning “The Little Thistle” in English, carries with it a sense of resilience and sharp beauty. Just as a thistle stands firm and unyielding amidst the winds, this piece of music embodies strength and grace. Its melodies weave a tapestry of emotions, telling tales of endurance and the quiet elegance found in life’s intricate moments.

Tango

Style

Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán)

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Jesús Fernández Blanco

Author

Luis Bernstein

Composer

1964/1/1

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán)
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán)

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El abrojito recorded by other Orchestras

El abrojito recorded by other Orchestras

Letra del Tango El abrojito

Llevo, como abrojito, prendido

dentro del corazón una pena

porque te fuiste, ingrata, del nido

y mi vida tan serena

condenaste así al dolor.

Nunca podré arrancar de mi pecho,

¡nunca! el abrojito punzante.

Y ando, por todo el mal que me has hecho

con el alma agonizante,

sin fe, sin nido, ni amor…



No sé por qué te alejaste de mí

si yo te adoré con creciente fervor.

No sé por qué me engañabas así,

sin demostrar tu desamor…

Con tu querer, yo era un hombre feliz

y nunca pensé que tu ardiente pasión

era el puñal que me habría de abrir

esta herida de mi corazón.



Quiero que en tu vivir errabundo,

sepas que solo y entristecido

marcho por los senderos del mundo,

con recuerdos que han prendido

como abrojos de cardal…

Pido que alguna vez tropecemos

para saber si al fin has hallado

todo lo que inconsciente has soñado.

¡Y quizá después podamos

volver los dos a empezar!

English lyrics of the Tango "El abrojito"

I carry, like a little thorn, affixed
within my heart a sorrow,
because you left, ungrateful, from our nest
and my life so serene
you doomed to pain.

I can never tear from my chest,
never! the piercing little thorn.
And I walk, for all the harm you’ve done
with a dying soul,
without faith, without nest, nor love…

I don’t know why you drifted from me
if I adored you with growing fervor.
I don’t know why you deceived me so,
without showing your disaffection…
With your love, I was a happy man
and never thought that your burning passion
was the dagger that would open
this wound in my heart.

I want you to know in your wandering life,
that lonely and saddened
I travel the paths of the world,
with memories that have clung
like thistles on a bush…
I hope that someday we may collide
to know if at last you have found
all that you unbidden dreamed.
And perhaps then we might
both start anew!

El abrojito by Jesús Fernández Blanco

El abrojito is a Tango written by Jesús Fernández Blanco and composed by Luis Bernstein.



Story behind the Tango El abrojito

The lyrics of “El abrojito” encapsulate a painful love story marked by betrayal and loss. The narrator expresses deep sorrow for an unfaithful lover who abandoned him. The repetitive invocation of pain, symbolized by the “abrojito” or small thorn, metaphorically illustrates the lingering emotional wounds the narrator carries in his heart. Their once serene life has been forever altered by their lover’s departure, leading to a continuous state of suffering and longing for what was once a source of happiness.



Symbolism of El abrojito

The term “abrojito” directly translates to “little burr” or “small thorn,” symbolizing a persistent, nagging pain. The author uses this imagery to portray the emotional torment that continues to afflict the heart of the narrator. Key phrases like “dentro del corazón una pena” (within the heart a sorrow) and “el abrojito punzante” (the stinging little thorn) poetically underscore the enduring nature of emotional pain that the protagonist can neither escape nor remove. This persistent pain reflects the recurring memories and irrevocable damage caused by the beloved’s betrayal.



El abrojito in historic Context

The tango was created in 1964, a period in Argentine history characterized by social and political changes. During this era, themes of loss, nostalgia, and personal anguish were common in the arts, mirroring the national sentiment. The portrayal of personal betrayal in “El abrojito” might subtly mirror the disillusionment felt by many during this time of cultural and political shift. Additionally, Argentina’s strong tradition of tango music as an expression of deeper emotional and societal narratives provides a perfect vehicle for such intimate yet universally resonant themes.



Jesús Fernández Blanco

Jesús Fernández Blanco was a prominent figure in the world of tango, known for his evocative lyrics that often explored themes of love, pain, and nostalgia.