Flora by

Flora is a Tango written by and composed by Augusto Berto.

Story behind the Tango Flora

“Flora” is a tango that exudes intense feelings of unrequited love and longing, expressed through the narrator’s deep emotional turmoil. The lyrics paint a picture of a person consumed by a love so great that it leads to desperation and a yearning for release through death. The narrator lives in a state of constant imploration, waiting for the day when their empty life might end, possibly believing that even death would be preferable to the pain of living without their beloved Flora.

Symbolism of Flora

In the lyrics, the longing and despair are symbolized through vivid language choices. The notion of “corte el puñal de la muerte” (cut the dagger of death) symbolizes the desire for an end to suffering, almost as if the pain is a physical wound that can only be healed by an ultimate end. The phrase “a vivir me encadena” (chains me to life) portrays life as a prison, with the narrator shackled by their own emotions. These powerful images highlight the depth of the narrator’s agony and desire for liberation from their affliction.

Flora in historic Context

Created in 1930, “Flora” is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Buenos Aires, a city pulsing with the dance and music of tango during this era. This period in Buenos Aires was marked by social and economic changes, with tango serving as a poignant expression of the heartfelt stories of the immigrant and working-class population. The tone of the lyrics, filled with loss and yearning, echoes the broader existential struggles and sense of melancholy prevalent in this culturally rich and turbulent time.

Augusto Berto

Augusto Berto was an influential figure in the early 20th-century tango music scene, known for his lyrical compositions and contributions to the tango tradition in Argentina.