Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Style
Orchestra
Singer
Author
Composer
Date
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.
La cachila is a Tango written by Héctor Polito and composed by Eduardo Arolas.
La cachila narrates the emotions of a person reminiscing about a past love which had been pure and profound, similar to the sanctuary of a bird’s nest. The lyrics convey a love that was nurturing and invigorating until a brutal, unexpected force, described metaphorically as a merciless storm, shattered their shared existence. This tango tells a tale of immense loss and unending sorrow, where the protagonist is left to mourn in solitude, with memories as their only remnants of a cherished past.
The title “La cachila” translates to an old, rundown car in English, symbolizing something once valued now worn and discarded, paralleling the narrator’s feelings about their past life and love. Phrases like “igual que la cachila, hice mi nido” (just like the cachila, I made my nest) and “igual que la cachila, de pena llora” (just like the cachila, cries from sorrow) draw vivid comparisons between the narrator’s deteriorating emotional state and a neglected automobile. This symbolism extends to the broader human experiences of loss, decay, and the harsh impacts of fate.
Recorded in 1931, “La cachila” emerges from a period in Argentine history marked by political instability and economic decline, reflective of the broader global impacts of the Great Depression. These societal conditions often influenced tango lyrics, imbuing them with themes of despair, nostalgia, and loss, mirroring the public’s sentiment. The geographical heart of tango, Buenos Aires, serves not only as a literal setting but also imbues the song with the urban melancholy that characterized the genre’s expressive depth during this era.
Héctor Polito was an influential lyricist in the world of Tango, whose works often encapsulated deep emotional and narrative richness.