Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Guardia vieja

Guardia vieja is a Tango written by Julio De Caro and recorded by José Basso in 1955. José Basso has recorded Guardia vieja as an instrumental Tango.
“Guardia Vieja,” or “Old Guard” in English, evokes the timeless essence of traditions that linger through the notes of the past. It speaks to the resilience and steadfastness of those who cherish bygone eras, their stories echoing in every melody. This tango whispers tales of enduring love and nostalgia, connecting generations through its passionate embrace.

Tango

Style

José Basso

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

José De Grandis

Author

Julio De Caro

Composer

1955/9/16

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
José Basso
José Basso

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Francisco Canaro – El flechazo – 1924/1/1
Aníbal Troilo – Chuzas – (unknown date)
Aníbal Troilo – El africano – 1967/10/18
Aníbal Troilo – B. B – 1963/4/17
Aníbal Troilo – Por qué la quise tanto – 1963/6/5
Aníbal Troilo – El marne – (unknown date)
Horacio Salgán – Mi refugio – 1950/6/21
Horacio Salgán – Sentimental y canyengue – 1953/5/20
Horacio Salgán – Del uno al cinco – 1965/1/1
Horacio Salgán – Shusheta (El aristócrata) – 1951/5/30
Horacio Salgán – Tango del balanceo – 1963/1/1
Juan MAGLIO – Milonguero viejo – 1928/4/2

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

1955/9/16 – Nido gaucho – Carlos di Sarli
1955/9/16 – Verdemar – Carlos di Sarli
1955/9/16 – Amurado – Jose Basso
1955/9/16 – La cumparsita – Jose Basso
1955/9/16 – La punalada – Jose Basso
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 head toward oblivion,
with a thousand beloved memories
that I’ll never forget.
And crossing my mind
are the parties and orgies
from 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
be with me again.
Who will soothe
the sorrows left
as time passed by?

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

I was once a dandy and now I’m a duck
but I still hold my head high
for the insolent friend
who refused to greet me.
I well know I am a nobody
with neither bread nor roof
but in my chest I keep
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” translates to “Old Guard” in English, a term often used to refer to the old-time traditions and values in Argentine Tango, a cultural artifact of the early 20th century before tango transitioned into a more modern phase. The lyrics poignantly express nostalgia and a deep sense of loss, both personal and cultural. The narrator recounts his past life filled with joy and revelry, now replaced by solitude and desolation. The transformation from a life of happiness (“felicidad que nunca más conmigo tendré”) to one where even basic needs are unmet (“no tengo ni pan ni techo”) captures a profound personal downfall.



Symbolism of Guardia vieja

The persistent themes of memory and loss in “Guardia vieja” are symbolically represented through images of journeys and nostalgia for youth. Phrases like “con mi bagayo de penas voy rumbo p’al olvido” utilize the motif of traveling with sorrows towards oblivion, symbolizing an attempt to escape painful memories while being unavoidably chained to them. The contrast between joyful youth (“Fugitivas horas plácidas de mi juventud consuelo”) and tragic current reality (“Y en su ausencia, horas trágicas debo vivir”) illustrates a life juxtaposed between past pleasures and present sufferings. This duality reflects the wider cultural nostalgia for the ‘golden age’ of Tango, symbolized by the ‘Guardia Vieja’ era.



Guardia vieja in historic Context

The tango was recorded in 1955, during a time when Argentina was undergoing significant political and social changes. This period was marked by an intense urbanization and modernization that often led to the erosion of traditional cultural practices, including the old ways of Tango dancing and music, referred to as “Guardia Vieja.” These transformations are echoed in the lyrics which mourn the passing of an era (“qué lejos están de mí!”) and critique the changes in societal values and personal relationships (“para el amigo insolente que el saludo me negó”). The lament for lost friendships and the hardship faced by the singer can be reflective of the larger societal neglect of tradition amid progress.



José De Grandis

José De Grandis was a significant figure in the realm of Tango, known for his emotive lyrics that often reflected themes of nostalgia, loss, and the human condition.