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El ciruja

El ciruja is a Tango written by Ernesto de la Cruz and recorded by Alfredo De Angelis in 1949. The Tango El ciruja is written by Ernesto de la Cruz, Alfredo De Angelis has recorded El ciruja with the singer Julio Martel.
“El Ciruja,” meaning “The Rag Picker” in English, encapsulates the soul of a wanderer sifting through the remnants of life in search of forgotten treasures. This haunting tango captures the melancholy and resilience of those living on the fringes, finding beauty in the discarded. With every note, it tells a story of survival wrapped in passion and heartache.

Tango

Style

Alfredo De Angelis

Orchestra

Julio Martel

Singer

Alfredo Marino

Author

Ernesto de la Cruz

Composer

1949/6/2

Date

Julio Martel
Julio Martel
Alfredo De Angelis
Alfredo De Angelis

Discover Other Orchestras

Francisco Rotundo – Resignate hermano – 1952/5/19
Francisco Rotundo – Nunca es tarde (Todavía estás a tiempo) – 1957/1/22
Francisco Rotundo – Libertad – 1956/5/22
Francisco Rotundo – El pollero – 1949/5/23
Francisco Rotundo – Cómo le digo a la vieja – 1954/7/8
Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – Felicia – 1937/4/20
Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – Me gusta bailar – 1946/11/21
Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – El toto – 1944/9/11
Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – La morocha – 1938/7/22
Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – Flor de suburbio – 1939/2/2
José Basso – La cumparsita – 1956/7/26
José Basso – La reja – 1956/11/29
José Basso – Tomo y obligo – 1951/9/11
José Basso – El choclo – 1970/1/1
José Basso – Sentimiento gaucho – 1955/12/23
Domingo Federico – Bajo tierra – 1947/5/30
Domingo Federico – Colorado el 32 – 1948/9/30
Domingo Federico – Mar – 1947/1/31
Domingo Federico – Al compás del corazón (Late un corazón) – 1969/1/1
Domingo Federico – Tropical – 1946/11/14

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.

El ciruja recorded by other Orchestras

El ciruja recorded by other Orchestras

1949/6/2 – Alla en el bajo – Alfredo De Angelis
1949/5/31 – Malandraca – Osvaldo Pugliese
1949/5/31 – Y volvemos a querernos – Osvaldo Pugliese
1949/5/27 – Tabernero (El tabernero) – Jose Basso
1949/5/27 – Una lagrima tuya – Jose Basso
El ciruja – 1951/12/6 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
El ciruja – 1949/6/2 – Alfredo De Angelis – Julio Martel
El ciruja – 1967/1/1 – Jose Basso – Alfredo Belusi
El ciruja – 1950/3/7 – Francini-Pontier – Julio Sosa

Lyrics Translation of the Tango El ciruja

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

Letra del Tango El ciruja

Como con bronca, y junando
de rabo de ojo a un costado,
sus pasos ha encaminado
derecho pa’l arrabal.
Lo lleva el presentimiento
de que, en aquel potrerito,
no existe ya el bulincito
que fue su único ideal.

Recordaba aquellas horas de garufa
cuando minga de laburo se pasaba,
meta punguia, al codillo escolaseaba
y en los burros se ligaba un metejón;
cuando no era tan junao por los tiras,
la lanceaba sin tener el manyamiento,
una mina le solfeaba todo el vento
y jugó con su pasión.

Era un mosaico diquero
que yugaba de quemera,
hija de una curandera,
mechera de profesión;
pero vivía engrupida
de un cafiolo vidalita
y le pasaba la guita
que le shacaba al matón.

Frente a frente, dando muestras de coraje,
los dos guapos se trenzaron en el bajo,
y el ciruja, que era listo para el tajo,
al cafiolo le cobró caro su amor.

Hoy, ya libre’e la gayola y sin la mina,
campaneando un cacho’e sol en la vedera,
piensa un rato en el amor de su quemera
y solloza en su dolor.

English lyrics of the Tango "El ciruja"

With rage and browsing,
sidelong, out of the corner of his eye,
he directed his steps
straight to the suburb.
He is led by the premonition
that, in that little field,
there no longer exists the little dwelling
that was his only dream.

He remembered those times of revelry
when without a care for work he’d spend his days,
always pickpocketing, skirting the dice,
and in the races, he’d nurse a crush;
when he wasn’t so hounded by the cops,
he gambled without having cause to worry,
a girl would sing away all his wins,
and gambled with his passion.

She was an elegant mosaic,
who worked as a sweeper,
daughter of a healer,
a professional shoplifter;
but was charmed
by a lively pimp,
and she handed over the cash
she swiped from the thug to him.

Face to face, showing signs of courage,
the two toughs clashed in the slums,
and the ragged one, who was slick with the knife,
made the pimp dearly pay for his love.

Today, free from the cage and without the girl,
glancing a bit of sun on the sidewalk,
he thinks awhile about his sweeper’s love
and sobs in his pain.

El ciruja by Alfredo Marino

El ciruja is a Tango written by Alfredo Marino and composed by Ernesto de la Cruz.



Story behind the Tango El ciruja

“El ciruja” tells the story of a man reflecting on his troubled past and the loss of love in the rough neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. The term “ciruja” is Argentinian slang for someone who collects garbage or lives off what they can find, often used metaphorically to describe someone from the lower classes who has been through tough times. The man reminisces about his life in the arrabal (a slum or outskirts of the city), his days filled with petty crime and gambling, and a love entangled with another man, a “cafiolo” (pimp), over a woman who was also involved in the darker trades of the city. This paints a vivid image of life in the margins, driven by survival and brief moments of passion.



Symbolism of El ciruja

The lyrics of “El ciruja” are rich in symbolism and the language of the streets. Terms like “arrabal” symbolize more than just a physical location, they reflect a culture and lifestyle on the edge of society. The phrases “jugó con su pasión” and “el amor de su quemera” are expressions of deep personal loss and romantic betrayal, encapsulating themes of love and deception. The story not only explores the emotions tied with love and betrayal but also highlights the societal dynamics and struggles of the lower classes in Argentina.



El ciruja in historic Context

“El ciruja” was recorded in 1949, a period in Argentina marked by political and social change, with Juan Perón having recently come to power championing labor rights and social justice. This backdrop is crucial in understanding the narrative, as it reflects the social scenarios and disparities experienced by those characters depicted in the song. Their struggles and conflicts can be seen as a microcosm of the broader societal issues of the time, resonating with the working class and marginalized communities.



Alfredo Marino

Alfredo Marino is recognized for his contributions to Tango music, often imbuing his lyrics with a narrative style that explores deep emotional and social complexities.