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El cocherito

El cocherito is a Tango written by Alfredo Attadía and recorded by Ángel d’Agostino in 1953. The Tango El cocherito is written by Alfredo Attadía, Ángel d’Agostino has recorded El cocherito with the singer Rubén Cané.
“El cocherito,” which translates to “The Little Coachman” in English, dances through the air with a rhythm that evokes the clattering of horse-drawn carriages on cobblestone streets. This tune, playful yet nostalgic, captures the spirit of a bygone era where every journey held promise and adventure. Its melody reminisces about simple joys and the magic of the everyday.

Tango

Style

Ángel d'Agostino

Orchestra

Rubén Cané

Singer

Santiago Adamini

Author

Alfredo Attadía

Composer

1953/9/3

Date

Rubén Cané
Rubén Cané
Ángel d'Agostino
Ángel d’Agostino

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El cocherito recorded by other Orchestras

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Lyrics Translation of the Tango El cocherito

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

Letra del Tango El cocherito

Bailando
empezó a vivir la vida
de muchacho paseandero,
bailarín de los primeros.
Gabino,
un mentado cocherito,
que vivía sus andanzas
en el barrio Caballito.
Silbando
noche a noche en una esquina
a la luz de un farolito
esperaba al organito,
y luego
cuando el tango le invitaba
a bailar los entregaba
empleando el corazón.

Bailando en las calles,
llegó el cocherito,
a ser en el barrio
una gran bailarin.
Soñaba los tangos
que el viejo organito
llevaba al suburbio
a hacerlo feliz.
En todos los bailes
que el mozo llegaba,
bailando ganaba
algún corazón.
Su estampa porteña
que tanto gustaba,
por donde bailaba,
recuerdos dejó.

Pasaron
muchos años y una noche,
entre amigos y algo en copas,
el muchacho les decía:
¡Les juro!
que tranquilo moriría,
si bailando un tango un día,
me fallara el corazón.

English lyrics of the Tango "El cocherito"

Dancing,
he began to live life
like a wandering young man,
a dancer among the first.
Gabino,
a renowned little coachman,
who lived his adventures
in the Caballito neighborhood.
Whistling
night after night on a corner
in the light of a little street lamp
he waited for the barrel organ,
and then
when the tango invited him
to dance he gave it his all
using his heart.

Dancing in the streets,
the coachman arrived,
to become in the neighborhood
a great dancer.
He dreamed of tangos
that the old barrel organ
carried to the suburbs
to make him happy.
In all the dances
that the young man attended,
dancing he won
some heart.
His porteño appearance
which was so pleasing,
wherever he danced,
left memories.

Years passed,
and one night,
among friends and slightly tipsy,
the young man said:
I swear!
that I would die peacefully,
if one day while dancing a tango,
my heart would fail.

El cocherito by Santiago Adamini

El cocherito is a Tango written by Santiago Adamini and composed by Alfredo Attadía.



Story behind the Tango El cocherito

The lyrics of “El cocherito” narrate the life of Gabino, a notable young man from the Caballito neighborhood in Buenos Aires, who thrived on dancing tango. Through dancing, Gabino not only expressed himself but also connected deeply with his community. Each verse encapsulates a slice of his life, portraying his regular nights spent dancing to the tunes of a street organ. The narrative also hints at his social ascent in the locality due to his dancing skills, which brought him admiration and emotional victories.



Symbolism of El cocherito

The central imagery of “El cocherito” revolves around the act of dancing, representing a gateway to personal freedom and self-expression. Tango, as a dance form synonymous with deep emotional undertones, serves as a playful yet poignant backdrop to Gabino’s lifestyle. Phrases like “bailando ganaba algún corazón” underscore his prowess not only as a dancer but also as a charmer who captured hearts through his elegant moves. Furthermore, the poetic vision of him wishing to die while dancing a tango, “si bailando un tango un día, me fallara el corazón,” symbolizes a life fully devoted to passion, a profound testament to living and dying for what one loves.



El cocherito in historic Context

Composed in 1953, “El cocherito” reflects the cultural significance of tango during the mid-20th century in Argentina, a period marked by the dance’s golden age. The references to Buenos Aires’ neighborhood Caballito and element like “organito” (a portable street organ) are deeply embedded in the local culture, revealing a community’s daily entertainment and social interaction. This period also saw tango as a method of societal storytelling, where personal tales of love, sorrow, and everyday life were woven into music and dance, resonating widely with the Argentine populace.



Santiago Adamini

Santiago Adamini was a notable figure in the tango genre, known for his evocative lyrics that often captured the essence of Argentine cultural narratives and simple joys of life.