Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Guardia vieja

Guardia vieja is a Tango written by Julio De Caro and recorded by Alfredo De Angelis in 1954. Alfredo De Angelis has recorded Guardia vieja as an instrumental Tango.
“Guardia Vieja,” or “Old Guard,” resonates with the echoes of a bygone era. This piece of music, perhaps a Tango, threads the tales of tradition and the whispers of legacy through its notes. It evokes a sense of nostalgia, capturing the spirit of timeless vigilance and the enduring beauty of a cultural heritage that refuses to fade.

Tango

Style

Alfredo De Angelis

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

José De Grandis

Author

Julio De Caro

Composer

1954/9/3

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Alfredo De Angelis
Alfredo De Angelis

Discover Other Orchestras

Julio De Caro – Sueño azul – 1951/11/16
Julio De Caro – De rompe y raja – 1949/10/19
Julio De Caro – El pillete – 1927/12/1
Julio De Caro – Un copetín – 1930/1/1
Julio De Caro – Mala pinta (Mala estampa) – 1951/11/17
Armando PONTIER – Verdemar – 1960/7/21
Anibal Troilo – El motivo (Pobre paica) – 1970/8/13
Anibal Troilo – Volver – 1970/8/13
Enrique Rodríguez – Sangre ecuatoriana – 1945/12/13
Enrique Rodríguez – Rezongando rezongando – 1944/7/20
Enrique Rodríguez – Marinero – 1943/2/8
Enrique Rodríguez – Mi muñequita – 1937/11/18
Enrique Rodríguez – Jarangon – 1939/2/24

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.

Guardia vieja recorded by other Orchestras

Guardia vieja recorded by other Orchestras

1954/9/3 – Malambo – Alfredo De Angelis
1954/9/1 – Sentimiento de calavera – Juan D-Arienzo
1954/9/1 – La sonrisa de mama – Juan D-Arienzo
1954/9/1 – Che existencialista – Juan D-Arienzo
1954/9/1 – El vino triste – Juan D-Arienzo
Guardia vieja – 1985/4/30 – Osvaldo Pugliese – Instrumental
Guardia vieja – 1926/12/28 – Pedro Laurenz – Instrumental
Guardia vieja – 1944/3/23 – Ricardo Malerba – Instrumental
Guardia vieja – 1954/9/3 – Alfredo De Angelis – Instrumental
Guardia vieja – 1955/9/16 – Jose Basso – Instrumental
Guardia vieja – 1965/1/1 – Jose Basso – Instrumental
Guardia vieja – 1973/1/1 – Hector Varela – Instrumental
Guardia vieja – 1926/1/1 – Julio De Caro – Instrumental
Guardia vieja – 1949/11/18 – Julio De Caro – Instrumental

Letra del Tango Guardia vieja

Con mi bagayo de penas
voy rumbo p’al olvido,
con mil recuerdos queridos
que nunca olvidaré.
Y se cruzan por mi mente
las farras y las orgías
de aquellos alegres días
que ya para mi no hay de volver.

¡Decirle adiós
a dichas que viví,
qué triste es!
Felicidad
que nunca más
conmigo tendré.
¿Quién calmará
las penas que dejó
el tiempo al pasar?

Fugitivas horas plácidas
de mi juventud consuelo,
¡hoy que tanto las anhelo,
qué lejos están de mí!
Y en su ausencia, horas trágicas
debo vivir.

Fui bacán y hoy soy pato
mas llevo alta la frente
para el amigo insolente
que el saludo me negó.
Bien lo sé que soy don nadie
no tengo ni pan ni techo
pero guardo en mi pecho
el dolor que el amigo me dejó.

English lyrics of the Tango "Guardia vieja"

With my bundle of sorrows,
I’m heading toward oblivion,
with a thousand cherished memories
I will never forget.
And they cross my mind—
the revelries and debaucheries
of those joyful days
that will never return for me.

To say goodbye
to joys I once lived,
how sad it is!
Happiness
that will never again
be with me.
Who will soothe
the sorrows left
by time as it passed?

Fleeting placid hours,
solace of my youth,
how much I yearn for them today,
how far they are from me!
And in their absence, tragic hours
I must live.

I was a dandy and now I’m a pauper,
yet I hold my head high
for the insolent friend
who refused me a greeting.
Well, I know I am a nobody,
without bread or shelter,
but I keep in my heart
the pain that the friend left me.

Guardia vieja by José De Grandis

Guardia vieja is a Tango written by José De Grandis and composed by Julio De Caro.



Story behind the Tango Guardia vieja

“Guardia vieja” unfolds a narrative deeply rooted in nostalgia and personal turmoil. The protagonist shares his journey of moving towards oblivion, laden with “a bag of sorrows,” ruminating over cherished memories that remain unforgettable. This emotional travel symbolizes an attempt to escape the present burden of pains tied to joyful days of the past that will never return. His tale bridges the joyful gatherings and orgies of his younger, livelier days to his current desolation and despair, acknowledging the irreversible nature of time and happiness.



Symbolism of Guardia vieja

The allegory of time and its irreversible, often harsh progression plays a central role in “Guardia vieja.” The lyrics “fugitive placid hours of my youth” juxtaposed with “in their absence, tragic hours I must live,” encapsulate the stark contrast between past joy and present pain, portraying life’s ephemeral nature. Defining himself first as a “bacán” (wealthy, influential man) and now as a “pato” (a broke, unfortunate person), emphasizes societal roles and personal identity based primarily on material wealth and acceptance.



Guardia vieja in historical Context

Written in 1954, a post-World War II era still fresh with memories of economic struggle and societal shifts, “Guardia vieja” mirrors the broader Argentine context of fluctuating societal fortunes and individual despair. During this period, Tango often reflected the sentiments of the common man, serving as a mouthpiece for expressing collective angst and nostalgia. The nostalgic yearning for a golden, unrecoverable past and the crude awakening to a troubled present can be seen as a reflection of the broader societal experience during those times.



José De Grandis

José De Grandis, an Argentine lyricist, captured the essence of personal and collective melodic history through his tango compositions, embedding deep emotional currents and societal commentary in his works.