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El preso n°9

El preso n°9 is a Tango written by Roberto Cantoral and recorded by Ricardo Malerba in 1958. The Tango El preso n°9 is written by Roberto Cantoral, Ricardo Malerba has recorded El preso n°9 with the singer Roberto Solar.
The title “El preso n°9,” or “Prisoner No. 9,” evokes a haunting tale of confinement and passion. Imprisoned within the bars of fate, this figure represents the despair and remorse of choices made in a moment of desperation. As the music echoes through time, it captures the essence of a soul grappling with the chains of its own making.

Tango

Style

Ricardo Malerba

Orchestra

Roberto Solar

Singer

Roberto Cantoral

Author

Roberto Cantoral

Composer

1958/1/1

Date

Roberto Solar
Roberto Solar
Ricardo Malerba
Ricardo Malerba

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Aníbal Troilo – Corrientes angosta – (unknown date)
Carlos di Sarli – Che bacana – 1929/10/28
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Edgardo Donato – Mentiras – 1930/1/1
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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 preso n°9 recorded by other Orchestras

El preso n°9 recorded by other Orchestras

1958/1/1 – Bailarina – Ricardo Malerba
1958/1/2 – Corazoneando – Osvaldo Pugliese
1958/1/2 – Gente amiga – Osvaldo Pugliese
1958/1/2 – Esta noche de copas – Hector Varela
1958/1/2 – Volve mimosa – Hector Varela
El preso n°9 – 1958/1/1 – Ricardo Malerba – Roberto Solar
El preso n°9 – 1961/8/11 – Enrique Rodriguez – Armando Moreno

Lyrics Translation of the Tango El preso n°9

This is the translation of the Tango “El preso n°9” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “El preso n°9” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango El preso n°9

Al preso numero nueve, ya lo van a confesar
Esta rezando en la celda con el cura del penal
Y antes del amanecer la vida le han de quitar
Porque mato a su mujer y un amigo desleal
Dice, asi, al confesar
Los mate, si senor
Y si yo vuelvo a nacer, yo los vuelvo a matar

Padre no me arrepiento, ni me da miedo la eternidad
Yo se que alla en el cielo el ser supremo nos juzgara
Voy a seguir sus pasos, voy a buscarlos al mas alla’

El preso numero nueve era un hombre muy cabal
Iba el noche del duelo, muy contento a su jacal
Pero al mirar a su amor, en brazos de su rival
Ardio en su pecho el rencor y no se pudo aguantar
Al sonar el clarin, se formo el peloton
Y rumbo al paredon, se oye al preso decir

Padre no me arrepiento, ni me da miedo la eternidad
Yo se que alla en el cielo el ser supremo nos juzgara
Voy a seguir sus pasos, voy a buscarllos al mas alla

English lyrics of the Tango "El preso n°9"

To prisoner number nine, they go now to confess
He’s praying in his cell with the prison’s own priest
And before the break of dawn, they will take his life away
Because he killed his wife and a treacherous friend he did betray
He says, this way, as he confesses
I killed them, yes sir,
And if I am born again, I would kill them once more

Father, I feel no regret, nor am I scared of eternity
I know that up in heaven the supreme being will judge
I will follow in their footsteps, I will seek them in the hereafter

Prisoner number nine was a very upright man
He went to his shack that duel night, so jolly
But seeing his love in the arms of his rival
In his chest, resentment burned and he couldn’t hold back
As the bugle sounded, the firing squad assembled
And on the way to the wall, you can hear the prisoner say

Father, I feel no regret, nor am I scared of eternity
I know that up in heaven the supreme being will judge
I will follow in their footsteps, I will seek them in the hereafter

El preso n°9 by Roberto Cantoral

El preso n°9 is a Tango written by Roberto Cantoral and composed by Roberto Cantoral.



Story behind the Tango El preso n°9

“El preso n°9” narrates the tragic fate of a man, referred to simply as prisoner number nine, who finds himself on death row after killing his unfaithful wife and her lover. Set within the sombre confines of his prison cell, he interacts with a priest during his final confession. The lyrics express the prisoner’s raw and conflicting emotions as he prepares to face his execution at dawn. This intense narrative not only delves into themes of betrayal and revenge but also explores deeper philosophical questions about justice, repentance, and the afterlife.



Symbolism of El preso n°9

The tale of “El preso n°9” is steeped in powerful symbolism, particularly through its examination of life, death, and spiritual reckoning. The prison setting itself symbolizes confinement and helplessness, contrasting with the protagonist’s unrepentant and fearless stance towards his impending death. Key phrases such as “Padre no me arrepiento, ni me da miedo la eternidad” (“Father, I am not sorry, nor am I afraid of eternity”) underscore his unwavering resolve and highlight a complex interplay of fatalism and defiance. Moreover, the mention of the “clarin” and the “paredon” (firing squad and execution wall) symbolizes the finality and severity of his fate, lending a grim inevitability to the narrative.



El preso n°9 in historic Context

Composed in 1958, “El preso n°9” emerges during a time of cultural and social flux in Argentina, a country with a tumultuous history characterized by political instability and societal strife. The tango, as a musical genre, often reflects themes of despair, loss, and nostalgia, mirroring the struggles of the common people during such periods. This song, with its stark depiction of crime, punishment, and existential contemplation, can be seen as a reflection of the harsh realities faced by many during this era, using the microcosm of a personal tragedy to highlight broader themes of justice and morality.



Roberto Cantoral

Roberto Cantoral was a prolific composer and singer, renowned for his contributions to Latin American music and particularly for his tangos, which have resonated deeply within the Latin American cultural sphere.