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El penado catorce

El penado catorce is a Tango written by Agustín Magaldi and recorded by Miguel Caló in 1947. The Tango El penado catorce is written by Agustín Magaldi, Miguel Caló has recorded El penado catorce with the singer Raul Iriarte.
“El penado catorce” translates to “The Convict Fourteen” in English. This evocative piece weaves a tale of solitude and longing, capturing the essence of a prisoner identified only by his impersonal number. Each note carries the weight of forgotten dreams and the relentless passage of time, echoing the soul’s yearning for freedom beyond the prison’s walls.

Tango

Style

Miguel Caló

Orchestra

Raul Iriarte

Singer

Carlos Pesce

Author

Agustín Magaldi

Composer

1947/6/26

Date

Raul Iriarte
Raul Iriarte
Miguel Caló
Miguel Caló

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Lyrics Translation of the Tango El penado catorce

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

Letra del Tango El penado catorce

En una celda oscura

del presidio lejano

el penado catorce

su vida terminó;

dicen los compañeros

que el pobre presidiario

murió haciendo señas

y nadie lo entendió.



En una noche fría

que el preso deliraba

su mueca tan extraña

dio mucho que pensar

y sin embargo, nadie,

de tantos carceleros,

se acercó a la celda

del que no pudo hablar.



Dejó una carta escrita,

con frases tan dolientes,

que un viejo presidiario

al leerla conmovió…

al mismo fratricida

con alma tenebrosa

que en toda su existencia

amor nunca sintió.



En la carta decía:

‘Ruego al juez de turno,

que traigan a mi madre,

le pido por favor,

pues antes de morirme

quisiera darle un beso

en la arrugada frente

de mi primer amor’.



Y en la celda sombría

del lejano presidio

su vida miserable

el penado entregó…

El último recuerdo,

el nombre de la madre,

y su acento tan triste

el viento lo llevó…

English lyrics of the Tango "El penado catorce"

In a dark cell

of the distant prison

condemned number fourteen

ended his life;

his fellow inmates say

that the poor prisoner

died gesturing

and no one understood.



On a cold night

as the prisoner delirated,

his strange grimace

gave much to think about,

yet no one,

of the many jailers,

approached the cell

of the one who couldn’t speak.



He left a letter written,

with such sorrowful phrases,

that an old inmate

was moved upon reading it…

to the same fratricide

with a dark soul

who in his whole life

never felt love.



The letter said:

‘I plead to the duty judge,

to bring my mother here,

I ask you please,

for before dying

I would like to give her a kiss

on the wrinkled forehead

of my first love.’



And in the gloomy cell

of the distant prison

he surrendered his miserable life…

The last memory,

the mother’s name,

and his accent so sad

was carried away by the wind…

El penado catorce by Carlos Pesce

El penado catorce is a Tango written by Carlos Pesce and composed by Agustín Magaldi.



Story behind the Tango El penado catorce

‘El penado catorce’, which translates to ‘The Convict Fourteen’, narrates the poignant story of a prisoner confined in a distant, dark cell. In his final moments, he attempts to communicate through gestures, but tragically, no one understands him. He leaves behind a letter addressed to a judge, requesting a final visit from his mother, reflecting his deep desire to connect with his ‘first love’, a symbol for parental affection and forgiveness. His life and silent struggles culminate in his lonely death, his last thoughts carried away by the wind.



Symbolism of El penado catorce

The lyrics are laden with symbols of isolation, despair, and unfulfilled yearnings. The ‘dark cell’ represents not only physical confinement but also the emotional and societal isolation faced by the prisoner. The ‘letter’, as his final connection to the world, symbolizes his lingering human dignity and desperate need for familial love. The recurring references to the ‘mother’ and ‘first love’ heighten the emotional intensity, suggesting that maternal love remains a pure, redeeming force even in the darkest moments. The song is a powerful reflection on the themes of alienation, regret, and the human desire for compassion.



El penado catorce in historic Context

Written and recorded in Argentina in 1947, a period marked by political instability and social unrest, ‘El penado catorce’ reflects the harsh realities of life in confinement. The setting in a ‘distant prison’ possibly alludes to the remoteness and exclusion of individuals deemed outcasts by society. During this era, Tango often served as a medium to express and critique societal issues, with narratives focusing on the marginalized. This song channels the broader social discourse about justice, empathy, and human rights prevalent in post-war Argentina.



Carlos Pesce

Carlos Pesce was a prolific Argentinian lyricist known for his deep, evocative tango lyrics that often explored themes of love, sorrow, and societal issues.