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El poncho del olvido

El poncho del olvido is a Tango written by Adolfo Avilés and recorded by Ángel d’Agostino in 1944. The Tango El poncho del olvido is written by Adolfo Avilés, Ángel d’Agostino has recorded El poncho del olvido with the singer Ángel Vargas.
“El poncho del olvido,” or “The Poncho of Forgetfulness,” wraps itself around the soul like a comforting cloak, shielding the heart from memories that ache. In its melodies, there’s a gentle surrender—a dance where sorrow quietly dissolves into the rhythm. This whispered embrace lets one drift where yesterday’s shadows cannot reach, offering a tender solace in the tango’s embrace.

Tango

Style

Ángel d'Agostino

Orchestra

Ángel Vargas

Singer

Enrique Maroni

Author

Adolfo Avilés

Composer

1944/5/25

Date

Ángel Vargas
Ángel Vargas
Ángel d'Agostino
Ángel d’Agostino

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Lyrics Translation of the Tango El poncho del olvido

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

Letra del Tango El poncho del olvido

Tango brujo, por tu culpa,
ando en el mundo sin nido
y con un poncho de olvido
quiero tapar mi dolor.
Te has ensañado con mi suerte
y todo el mal que me hiciste
ha puesto en mi vida triste
no sé qué extraña emoción.

Cuántas veces en mis horas,
de honda melancolía
si tu música venía
mis recuerdos a turbar,
amargamente evocaba,
el pasado sin belleza
y en brazos de la tristeza
reía por no llorar.

¿Qué se hicieron los recuerdos?
¿Dónde fueron mis pasiones?
Pobrecitas ilusiones
que en la vida acaricié,
y que hoy tan sólo tiene,
ocultas como la rosa,
una espina venenosa
que está clavada en mi fe.

Tango malo y traicionero,
pañuelito del suburbio
que secó en el barrio turbio
muchas lágrimas de amor.
¡Yo no sé cómo te quiero,
si tan desahuciado has sido,
que sólo un poncho de olvido
podrá tapar mi dolor!

English lyrics of the Tango "El poncho del olvido"

Witchcraft tango, because of you,
I wander the world without a nest
and with a cloak of oblivion
I want to cover my pain.
You’ve scorned my fate
and all the harm you’ve done to me
has placed in my sad life
I don’t know what strange emotion.

How many times in my hours
of deep melancholy
if your music came
to disturb my memories,
bitterly I would recall
the past without beauty
and in the arms of sadness
I laughed to keep from crying.

What happened to the memories?
Where did my passions go?
Poor little illusions
that in life I cherished,
and that today only have,
hidden like the rose,
a poisonous thorn
that is stuck in my faith.

Evil and treacherous tango,
little handkerchief of the suburb
that dried in the murky neighborhood
many tears of love.
I don’t know why I love you,
if you have been so forsaken,
that only a cloak of oblivion
can cover my pain!

El poncho del olvido by Enrique Maroni

El poncho del olvido is a Tango written by Enrique Maroni and composed by Adolfo Avilés.



Story behind the Tango El poncho del olvido

The lyrics of “El poncho del olvido” reflect deep emotional suffering and regret interwoven with a critique of tango as a genre—blaming it for intensifying the singer’s sorrow. Throughout the song, the persona narrates the psychological struggle of covering his pain with a metaphorical ‘poncho of forgetting,’ suggesting a desire to hide his emotional torment. The continuous lament about tainted fortunes and unfulfilled desires, fuelled by haunting memories triggered by tango’s melodies, encapsulates the core narrative.



Symbolism of El poncho del olvido

The central symbol in this tango—the “poncho del olvido”—is heavily laden with meaning. In traditional Latin American cultures, a poncho is not just a garment but a protective covering. Here, it metaphorically signifies an attempt to shield oneself from past pains and disappointments. Tango music itself is portrayed almost like an enchantment (“Tango brujo”), which traditionally means a bewitching or haunting tango, reanimating painful memories rather than soothing them. The references to “pañuelito del suburbio” (little handkerchief of the suburb) evoke the image of a humble, yet essential object used to dry tears of unrequited or lost love.



El poncho del olvido in historic Context

Recorded in Argentina in 1944, a period marked by political tension and the rise to power of Juan Domingo Perón shortly thereafter, “El poncho del olvido” resonates with the socio-economic climates of its time. Amidst uncertainty and change, tango music often captured the communal melancholy of the working classes. Furthermore, the choice to depict personal despair through a musical genre closely tied to national identity reflects a broader cultural practice of finding solace and expression through tango during times of social upheaval. The year 1944 itself, still bearing the throes of World War II, would have seen such cultural expressions as crucial outlets for public and private grievances.



Enrique Maroni

Enrique Maroni was a prominent lyricist known for his deep involvement in the Argentine tango scene. His works often delve into themes of love, sorrow, and societal reflections.