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Frase

Frase is a Tango written by Víctor Lavallén and recorded by Osvaldo Pugliese in 1965. The Tango Frase is written by Víctor Lavallén, Osvaldo Pugliese has recorded Frase with the singer Jorge Maciel.
“Frase,” meaning “Phrase” in English, captures the essence of a fleeting moment expressed through melody. This Tango, like a whispered sentence in the language of music, conveys emotions unspoken yet profoundly felt. Each note weaves a story, painting a vivid tapestry of longing, passion, and the ephemeral beauty of life’s intricate dance.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Pugliese

Orchestra

Jorge Maciel

Singer

Félix Rosario Arena

Author

Víctor Lavallén

Composer

1965/10/1

Date

Jorge Maciel
Jorge Maciel
Osvaldo Pugliese
Osvaldo Pugliese

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Lyrics Translation of the Tango Frase

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

Letra del Tango Frase

Que el dinero no es la felicidad
Y vos que lo tenés, ¿Por qué no me lo das?
Que el dinero no es la felicidad
Y vos que lo tenés a mí me la contás.
Yo que estoy en la cinchada desde pibe
Y soy del hormiguero, una hormiguita más,
Y le piso la sombra a los cuarenta
Siempre sacando cuentas y sigo “cero al as”.

Del barrio de las fábricas soy yo
Barracas al Sur con mucho honor,
Si habré esperado el sol pa´ saludarlo
Luego buscarlo, pa´ cobijarme.
Y silbando viejos tangos a mi paso
Rumbo al trabajo fui con amor,
Sin poder esquivarle al viento helado
Que me mordía, sin compasión.

Yo que estoy en la cinchada desde pibe
Y soy del hormiguero, una hormiguita más,
Pero el oro no compra mi conciencia
Yo tengo viejas cuentas y vos las saldarás.

English lyrics of the Tango "Frase"

Money doesn’t buy happiness,
And you, who have it, why not give it away?
Money doesn’t buy happiness,
Yet you who have it keep telling me so.
I’ve been in the struggle since I was a kid,
Just another little ant from the anthill,
Stepping into the shadows at forty,
Always crunching numbers, still “zero at cards.”

I’m from the neighborhood of factories,
Proudly from Barracas al Sur,
I’ve waited for the sun just to greet it,
Then searched for it, for some warmth.
Whistling old tangos along my way,
I went to work with love,
Unable to dodge the biting cold wind
That gnawed at me, mercilessly.

I’ve been in the struggle since I was a kid,
Just another little ant from the anthill,
But gold can’t buy my conscience,
I have old scores, and you will settle them.

Frase by Félix Rosario Arena

Frase is a Tango written by Félix Rosario Arena and composed by Víctor Lavallén.



Story behind the Tango Frase

The lyrics of “Frase” convey a deep, reflective narrative about the struggles and values of a working-class individual from the Barracas neighborhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Through conversational verses, the speaker challenges common notions about money and happiness, juxtaposing the rich and their financial ease against his own lifelong struggle. The protagonist asserts his dignity and the ineffectiveness of wealth in buying a clear conscience, emphasizing a life of honest labor and integrity.



Symbolism of Frase

The recurring phrase, “Que el dinero no es la felicidad” (Money is not happiness), serves as a potent symbol challenging materialistic values. This rhetorical question to the wealthy, asking why, if money isn’t happiness, it isn’t shared, highlights the gap between the rich and the poor. The references to being “una hormiguita más” (just another ant) and the repeated struggles, “siempre sacando cuentas y sigo cero al as” (always doing the math and still at zero), symbolize the ongoing, often unrecognized, labor of the working classes. The harsh, cold winds that bite without compassion further illustrate the daily adversities faced by the common man.



Frase in historic Context

“Frase” emerged during the 1960s in Argentina, a period characterized by significant social and political upheaval. The contrasting lifestyles between the working class and the affluent, amplified by industrial growth and urban challenges, reflect broader social themes of equity and justice. The mention of Barracas, a notable working-class district in Buenos Aires, roots the tango in a specific urban reality, highlighting the plight and resilience of its residents against the backdrop of broader societal shifts.



Félix Rosario Arena

Félix Rosario Arena was an Argentine lyricist known for his reflective and often socially charged tango lyrics that vividly captured the essence of the working-class spirit and their struggles.