Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Farol

Farol is a Tango written by Virgilio Expósito and recorded by Osvaldo Pugliese in 1943. The Tango Farol is written by Virgilio Expósito, Osvaldo Pugliese has recorded Farol with the singer Roberto Chanel.
“Farol,” meaning “Streetlight” in English, illuminates the soul’s hidden corners with a warm, flickering glow. It guides the night wanderers, offering a beacon of hope in the midst of darkness, much like a tango’s rhythm weaving through life’s shadows. The music whispers tales of longing and nostalgia, wrapping listeners in its luminous embrace.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Pugliese

Orchestra

Roberto Chanel

Singer

Homero Expósito

Author

Virgilio Expósito

Composer

1943/7/15

Date

Roberto Chanel
Roberto Chanel
Osvaldo Pugliese
Osvaldo Pugliese

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Farol recorded by other Orchestras

Farol recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Farol

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

Letra del Tango Farol

Un arrabal con casas

que reflejan su dolor de lata…

Un arrabal humano

con leyendas que se cantan como tangos…

Y allá un reloj que lejos da

las dos de la mañana…

Un arrabal obrero,

una esquina de recuerdos y un farol…



Farol,

las cosas que ahora se ven…

Farol ya no es lo mismo que ayer…

La sombra,

hoy se escapa a tu mirada,

y me deja más tristona

la mitad de mi cortada.

Tu luz,

con el tango en el bolsillo

fue perdiendo luz y brillo

y es una cruz…



Allí conversa el cielo

con los sueños de un millón de obreros..

Allí murmura el viento

los poemas populares de Carriego,

y cuando allá a lo lejos dan

las dos de la mañana,

el arrabal parece

que se duerme repitiéndole al farol…

English lyrics of the Tango "Farol"

A suburb with houses

reflecting their tin sorrow…

A human suburb

with legends sung like tangos…

And there a clock that far away strikes

two in the morning…

A working-class suburb,

a corner of memories and a streetlamp…

Streetlamp,

the things that are now seen…

Streetlamp, it’s not the same as yesterday…

The shadow,

today it escapes your gaze,

and leaves me even sadder

the half of my street cut off.

Your light,

with the tango in its pocket

has been losing light and shine

and is now a cross…

There the sky converses

with the dreams of a million workers…

There the wind murmurs

the popular poems of Carriego,

and when there in the distance it strikes

two in the morning,

the suburb seems

to sleep repeating to the streetlamp…

Farol by Homero Expósito

Farol is a Tango written by Homero Expósito and composed by Virgilio Expósito.



Story behind the Tango Farol

Farol translates to “streetlight” or “lantern” in English, symbolizing illumination and guidance in a humble neighborhood setting. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a working-class suburb with houses reflecting their metallic sorrow, underlined by the local culture that breathes through tango songs. The refrain “Farol, las cosas que ahora se ven…” implies a shift in the community or environment that a nostalgic past light once brightened. The streetlight stands as a silent witness to the transformation and loss of its neighborhood’s former vibrancy.



Symbolism of Farol

The “farol” in this piece is loaded with symbolism, not just as a physical source of light but as a beacon of memory and change. It stands as a testament to the past glories and lived experiences of the neighborhood’s working-class residents. Mentioning the streetlight’s “tango in the pocket” losing its light and shine over time evocatively tells of traditional values and old ways slowly fading, unable to withstand the test of time and modernity. The portrayal of shadows escaping the lantern’s gaze further symbolizes the diminishing connection with history and the overshadowing of simpler, yet profound aspects of local life.



Farol in historic Context

Written in Argentina during 1943, an era marked by socio-political shifts leading up to the Peronist era, “Farol” reflects a period of significant change. During this time, Argentina faced profound transformations in its social fabric, characterized by increasing industrialization and urban sprawl, which altered the culture and dynamic of neighborhoods like the one depicted in the tango. The reference to conversations between the sky and workers’ dreams underlines a collective yearning for better times amid changing social realities. The lyrics likely resonate with the common people’s nostalgia and the dissipation of community bonds brought upon by evolving urban landscapes.



Homero Expósito

Homero Expósito was a notable Argentine lyricist and poet, recognized for his profound contributions to the genre of Tango, often imbuing his works with deep emotional resonances and reflective themes.