Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Farolito viejo

Farolito viejo is a Tango written by Luis Teisseire and recorded by Héctor Varela in 1950. The Tango Farolito viejo is written by Luis Teisseire, Héctor Varela has recorded Farolito viejo with the singer Armando Laborde.
“Farolito Viejo,” or “Old Little Lantern,” evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth. This piece of music illuminates memories of bygone days, casting a gentle glow upon cherished moments from the past. It invites listeners to dance through the shadows of history, embracing the flickering light of fading yet treasured dreams.

Tango

Style

Héctor Varela

Orchestra

Armando Laborde

Singer

José Eneas Riú

Author

Luis Teisseire

Composer

1950/12/15

Date

Armando Laborde
Armando Laborde
Héctor Varela
Héctor Varela

Discover Other Orchestras

Osmar Maderna – Canción desesperada – 1946/1/1
Osmar Maderna – Mientras duerme la ciudad – 1946/5/13
Osmar Maderna – Fantasía en tiempo de tango (Sobre motivos de Monti) – 1947/4/25
Osmar Maderna – Cuando no te quiere nadie – 1949/9/29
Osmar Maderna – Gracias – 1946/10/31
Juan D’Arienzo – Salí de perdedor – 1939/4/12
Juan D’Arienzo – Corrientes y Esmeralda – 1945/5/4
Juan D’Arienzo – Maiz frito – 1929/1/1
Juan D’Arienzo – La cicatriz – 1939/10/30
Juan D’Arienzo – Triste soledad – 1947/2/27
Francisco Rotundo – Lo siento en el alma – 1954/9/17
Francisco Rotundo – Justo el 31 – 1953/12/14
Francisco Rotundo – As de cartón – 1953/1/5
Francisco Rotundo – Para florearse – 1954/11/16
Francisco Rotundo – Por seguidora y por fiel – 1952/5/19
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Ensueños – 1960/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – A la gran muñeca – 1964/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Canaro en París – 1960/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Gran Hotel Victoria (Hotel Victoria) – 1964/1/1
Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgán) – Vida mía – 1964/1/1

Recommended

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 viejo recorded by other Orchestras

Farolito viejo recorded by other Orchestras

1950/12/15 – Mama lejana – Enrique Rodriguez
1950/12/15 – Se acabo la mishiadura – Enrique Rodriguez
1950/12/15 – La trilla – Hector Varela
1950/12/18 – La trampera – Miguel Calo
1950/12/18 – Murmullos (Murmuyos) – Miguel Calo
Farolito viejo – 1950/12/15 – Hector Varela – Armando Laborde
Farolito viejo – 1954/11/16 – Francisco Rotundo – Julio Sosa
Farolito viejo – 1927/6/9 – Roberto Firpo – Instrumental

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Farolito viejo

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

Letra del Tango Farolito viejo

Farolito viejo del barrio malevo,

broncea la esquina con pálida luz;

alumbró el reparto después del laburo

y ha sido en la noche también batitú…

Bajo su luz pobre la china apenada

del taita encanado la carta leyó,

mofando con llanto de buena maleva

los versos escritos con el corazón.



También a sus rayos brillaron las dagas

cruzadas en duelo por un mismo amor.

Un muerto sangraba y nadie batía

del taura la hombría que fue vencedor.

Su luz fue testigo oyendo el chamuyo

jugándole sucio al taita bacán…

¡La grela traidora y el chorro cobarde

batieron la cana por miedo al puñal!



Y cuando los tiras a su hombre encanaron

lloraba en sus ojos la luz del farol;

después, una piedra rompió los cristales

bajando al suburbio feroz maldición.

Farolito viejo, estoy entre rejas;

a mi celda triste no llega tu luz…

¡Espero con ansias volver a la esquina

vengándome de ella y del batitú!

English lyrics of the Tango "Farolito viejo"

Old streetlight of the wicked neighborhood,

bronzes the corner with pale light;

it lit up the distribution after work

and has also been the night guard…

Under its weak light, the grieving woman

read the letter from her gray-haired old man,

mocking with tears of a true villainess

the verses written from the heart.



Also, under its beams gleamed the daggers

crossed in a duel for the same love.

A man bled out and no one spread word

of the bravery of the victor.

Its light was a witness, hearing the sweet-talking

playing dirty against the classy old man…

The traitorous woman and the cowardly thief

snitched out of fear of the dagger!

And when the cops locked up her man,

the light of the streetlight cried in her eyes;

then, a stone shattered the glass

sending a fierce curse down to the slum.
Old streetlight, I am behind bars;

your light does not reach my sad cell…

I eagerly await returning to the corner

to avenge myself on her and the night guard!

Farolito viejo by José Eneas Riú

Farolito viejo is a Tango written by José Eneas Riú and composed by Luis Teisseire.



Story behind the Tango Farolito viejo

The tango “Farolito viejo” tells a poignant story set against the backdrop of a marginalized urban neighborhood in Argentina. The lyrics depicted through the dim light of an old street lamp reveal a tale of love, betrayal, and revenge. The protagonist reflects on scenes witnessed by the street lamp, from private sorrows to public violence, culminating in a vow for retribution after his release from imprisonment. The recurring presence of the street lamp serves as a witness to the unfolding human drama, painting a narrative that intertwines personal and communal histories.



Symbolism of Farolito viejo

The “Farolito viejo” (old street lamp) symbolizes a silent observer of life’s darker moments in the underbelly of the city. It casts a dim light that reveals key emotional scenes: love letters read under distress, duels fought over passions, and betrayals that lead to arrest. Each event under the farolito’s glow reflects profound themes of human frailty, the duality of love and violence, and the inevitability of fate. Significant phrases like “la luz del farol” (the light of the lamp) evoke a beacon of truth and memory, shedding light on secrets otherwise cloaked in darkness.



Farolito viejo in historic Context

The song was recorded in 1950, a period marked by significant social and political changes in Argentina. This era saw the rise of Juan Domingo Perón, which drastically altered the social fabric of the country. The tango, a genre deeply embedded in Argentine culture, often reflected such societal shifts through its themes of struggle, passion, and resilience. “Farolito viejo,” with its narrative centered around societal margins, codifies individual struggles mirroring broader societal tensions.



José Eneas Riú

José Eneas Riú was an influential figure in the tango scene, known for his evocative lyrics that often captured the spirit and struggles of early 20th-century Argentina.