Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Style
Orchestra
Singer
Author
Composer
Date
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.
Farolito de papel is a Tango written by Francisco García Jiménez and composed by Mario Lespés.
“Farolito de papel” portrays the classic theme of heartache in tango, expressing deep feelings of loss and betrayal. Through the lyrics, the narrator describes the painful realization of having been abandoned by a loved one, using the metaphor of a paper lantern (farolito de papel) to describe both the fragility and the fleeting nature of the relationship. The tango speaks to the surprise and emotional devastation of discovering a farewell letter, evidence of broken promises of eternal love.
The title “Farolito de papel,” translating to “little paper lantern” in English, is a potent symbol throughout the piece. Paper lanterns, fragile and easily extinguished, symbolize the ephemeral quality of the relationship and the fleeting light it provided in the narrator’s life. The repeated use of “solo, pato… y hecho un gil” (alone, a fool… and made a fool of) emphasizes the narrator’s feelings of foolishness and isolation. The lantern having “much smoke and little light” at the end further symbolizes the superficial and disappointing nature of the lover.
Created and performed in Argentina in 1944, “Farolito de papel” was composed in a period when tango was profoundly intertwined with the emotional and cultural life of Buenos Aires. The social and political climates of the time, marked by dramatic changes and uncertainties due to World War II and the lead-up to Juan Domingo Perón’s rise to power, likely influenced the themes of disillusionment and betrayal in the lyric. This backdrop makes the themes of loss and unfulfilled promises resonate more deeply with an audience grappling with instability.
Francisco García Jiménez was a prolific Argentine lyricist known for his significant contributions to the tango genre.