El cielo lloró por mi by Celedonio Flores

El cielo lloró por mi is a Tango written by Celedonio Flores and composed by .

Story behind the Tango El cielo lloró por mi

The lyrics of “El cielo lloró por mi” tell a story of personal transformation and redemption. The narrator reflects on his past life filled with gambling, ephemeral relationships, and empty pursuits, described vividly through metaphors of a seedy underworld involving “Garsonier, carreras, timbas, copetines de vicioso.” In a decisive moment, he chooses to “plant himself” firmly against further descent into this lifestyle, symbolized by the use of card-playing jargon, “me planté con siete y medio,” likening his decision to a gamble that paid off. This change is driven by a shift towards a more serene and purposeful life, exemplified by his return to his mother’s side. The emotional weight of the song peaks as the narrator pleads with a former lover not to disrupt his newfound peace, revealing both his fear and longing, encapsulated in the haunting refrain of fearing to restart old romances.

Symbolism of El cielo lloró por mi

The symbolic language of “El cielo lloró por mi” is rich and evocative. Phrases like “cementerio de mi vida convertido en un jardín” powerfully illustrate the transformation from a life perceived as dead or futile to one blossoming with new possibilities. The gambling terminology interwoven throughout the song highlights the high stakes of life’s decisions and the narrator’s final bet on a moral and stable future. References to weather phenomena, as implied by the title “El cielo lloró por mi” which translates to “The sky cried for me,” suggest a cleansing or baptismal rain, symbolizing forgiveness and finality from past misdeeds. The celestial crying could also be interpreted as a divine sympathy or intervention, comforting the narrator in his moment of life-altering resolution.

El cielo lloró por mi in historic Context

Released in 1970 in Argentina, “El cielo lloró por mi” emerged during a period marked by social and political unrest. Celedonio Flores’s lyrics reflect a personal microcosm of wider societal issues—themes of moral corruption, redemption, and genuine relationships amidst societal decay. This period in Argentina was fraught with economic instability and governmental changes, mirrored in the personal chaos and subsequent quest for peace by the song’s narrator. Within this context, the lyrics might also resonate as a metaphor for cultural or national redemption, suggesting a return to more traditional values symbolized by the sanctity of maternal love and the desire for a quieter, more principled life.

Celedonio Flores

Celedonio Flores was an influential Argentine poet and tango lyricist known for his vivid portrayals of urban life and popular culture in Buenos Aires.