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La cumparsita

La cumparsita is a Tango written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez and recorded by Francini-Pontier in 1946. The Tango La cumparsita is written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez, Francini-Pontier has recorded La cumparsita with the singer Alberto Podestá.
“La Cumparsita,” meaning “The Little Parade” in English, evokes a procession of emotions in its melody. It captures the essence of fleeting moments, where an array of memories and dreams march through the heart. This tango transforms the ephemeral into a timeless dance, a poignant reminder of the beauty in life’s transient parades.

Tango

Style

Francini-Pontier

Orchestra

Alberto Podestá

Singer

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Author

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Composer

1946/12/16

Date

Alberto Podestá
Alberto Podestá
Francini-Pontier
Francini-Pontier

Discover Other Orchestras

Orquesta Típica Victor – Vieja loca – 1927/8/8
Orquesta Típica Victor – Abuelito – 1926/8/25
Orquesta Típica Victor – Linda – 1926/12/1
Orquesta Típica Victor – La serenata (Mi amor) – 1930/11/25
Orquesta Típica Victor – La cumparsita – 1926/5/12
Carlos di Sarli – El estagiario – 1941/4/18
Carlos di Sarli – Por un te quiero – 1957/10/4
Carlos di Sarli – Boedo y San Juan – 1943/12/17
Carlos di Sarli – Bailemos – 1955/7/15
Carlos di Sarli – Chimentos – 1954/3/17
Lucio Demare – Milonguero viejo – 1956/1/1
Lucio Demare – Un tango guapo – 1942/4/14
Lucio Demare – Luna – 1943/12/21
Lucio Demare – Ribereña – 1942/3/13
Lucio Demare – Mañanitas de Montmartre – 1957/1/1
Osvaldo Fresedo – Tres momentitos (Three Little Times) – 1934/1/26
Osvaldo Fresedo – Libre – 1945/11/13
Osvaldo Fresedo – Aterrizaje – 1928/5/19
Osvaldo Fresedo – Cuando cuentes la historia de tu vida – 1953/9/15
Osvaldo Fresedo – Por tu culpa – 1926/12/6

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.

La cumparsita recorded by other Orchestras

La cumparsita recorded by other Orchestras

1946/12/16 – Chamberguito de los gauchos – Cuarteto Tipico Roberto Firpo
1946/12/16 – Milonga de esquina – Francini-Pontier
1946/12/19 – Tu olvido – Ricardo Tanturi
1946/12/19 – Yo se lo que te digo – Ricardo Tanturi
1946/12/13 – Yo tambien carrero fui – Alfredo De Angelis
La cumparsita – 1943/11/5 – Anibal Troilo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1942/11/12 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1951/7/16 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
La cumparsita – (unknown date) – Anibal Troilo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1955/6/20 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1963/4/9 – Anibal Troilo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1937/12/14 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1951/9/12 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1943/11/23 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1968/9/11 – Cuarteto Anibal TROILO – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1963/12/10 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1971/12/7 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 2015/1/1 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1946/2/8 – Angel d-Agostino – Angel Vargas
La cumparsita – 1964/4/24 – Miguel Calo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1927/5/3 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1943/6/28 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1979/10/30 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1926/11/7 – Pedro Laurenz – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1953/9/22 – Pedro Laurenz – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1942/9/10 – Rodolfo Biagi – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1940/11/18 – Ricardo Tanturi – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1935/5/6 – Edgardo Donato – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1944/6/3 – Alfredo De Angelis – Nestor Rodi
La cumparsita – 1961/8/29 – Alfredo De Angelis – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1953/1/22 – Enrique Rodriguez – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1955/9/16 – Jose Basso – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1956/7/26 – Jose Basso – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1961/4/28 – Jose Basso – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1983/1/1 – Jose Basso –
La cumparsita – 1968/5/2 – Hector Varela – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1956/11/29 – Hector Varela – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1954/11/25 – Hector Varela – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1966/3/21 – Florindo Sassone – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1973/1/1 – Florindo Sassone – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1968/5/30 – Florindo Sassone – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1957/1/1 – Astor Piazzolla – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1951/1/1 – Astor Piazzolla – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1950/5/17 – Osmar Maderna – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1977/1/1 – Enrique Francini – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1928/1/11 – Roberto Firpo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1917/1/1 – Roberto Firpo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1937/7/4 – Cuarteto Tipico Roberto Firpo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1973/1/1 – Francini-Pontier – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1946/12/16 – Francini-Pontier – Alberto Podesta
La cumparsita – 1955/9/13 – Armando Pontier – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 211/12/1 – Horacio Salgan – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1987/1/1 – Nuevo Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgan) – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1930/1/1 – Julio De Caro – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1926/5/12 – Orquesta Tipica Victor – Instrumental

Lyrics Translation of the Tango La cumparsita

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

Letra del Tango La cumparsita

La cumparsa

De miserias sin fin

Desfila

En torno de aquel ser

Enfermo

Que pronto ha de morir

De pena.

Por eso es que en su lecho

Solloza acongojado

Recordando el pasado

Que lo hace padecer…



Abandonó a su viejita

Que quedó desamparada,

Y loco de pasión

Ciego de amor

Corrió tras de su amada,

Que era linda, era hechicera

De lujuria era una flor,

Que burló su querer

Hasta que se cansó

Y por otro lo dejó…



Largo tiempo después

Cayó al hogar materno,

Para poder curar su enfermo

Y herido corazón…

Y supo

Que su viejita santa,

La que él había dejado

El invierno pasado

De frío se murió…



Hoy ya solo, abandonado

A lo triste de su suerte,

Ansioso espera a la muerte

Que bien pronto ha de llegar,

Y entre la triste frialdad

Que lenta invade el corazón,

Sintió la cruda sensación

De su maldad…



Entre sombras

Se le oye respirar

Sufriente,

Al que antes de morir

Sonríe

Porque una dulce paz

Le llega…

Sintió que desde el cielo

Su madrecita buena,

Mitigando sus penas

Sus culpas perdonó…!

English lyrics of the Tango "La cumparsita"

The parade

of endless miseries

marches around

that sick being

who soon will die

of sorrow.

That’s why on his bed

he sobs distressed

remembering the past

that causes him to suffer…

He abandoned his old mother

who was left helpless,

and mad with passion

blind with love

he chased after his beloved,

who was beautiful, was enchanting,

a flower of lust,

who mocked his love

until she tired

and left him for another…

Long time after,

he returned to his mother’s home,

to heal his sick

and wounded heart…

And he learned

that his holy mother,

whom he had left

last winter

died of cold…

Now alone, forsaken

to the sadness of his fate,

he anxiously awaits death

which will soon arrive,

and amid the cold sadness

slowly seizing his heart,

he felt the harsh sensation

of his wickedness…

Among shadows,

you can hear him breathe

suffering,

one who before dying

smiles

because a sweet peace

reaches him…

He felt that from heaven

his good mother,

easing his pains

forgave his sins…!

La cumparsita by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

La cumparsita is a Tango written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez and composed by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez.



Story behind the Tango La cumparsita

‘La cumparsita’, which translates to ‘The little parade’, revolves around the profound regret and despair of a man reflecting on his past misdeeds. The lyrics narrate the story of a dying man, haunted by his abandonment of his mother and his follies of pursuing an illusion of love. His choices led to personal ruin and the death of his mother from neglect, and he now lies on his deathbed, tormented by these memories, yearning for redemption and peace.



Symbolism of La cumparsita

In ‘La cumparsita,’ there is a strong use of allegory to paint a vivid picture of suffering and remorse. The parade of endless miseries signifies the constant remembrance of infamy that encircles the protagonist’s weakened state. The striking metaphor of his past lover as a seductive but ruinous flower who ‘mocked his love’ echoes his downfall through lust and misplaced affections. Eventually, the man’s anticipation of death dressed as a chilling comfort reflects the depth of his hopelessness and desire for liberation from his self-inflicted suffering.



La cumparsita in historic Context

Set in the mid-20th century Argentina, ‘La cumparsita’ much like other tangos of its era, reflects the somber emotional landscape of the Argentine society, marked by passion, drama, and often, tragedy. This period witnessed a rich evolution of Tango music, deeply connected with the complex social changes and personal narratives of the time. Tango thus became a tool for expressing the collective hardships, intimate confessions, and poignant reflections observed among the locals, making it a cultural reservoir of Argentine emotions and experiences.



Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez was a prolific Uruguayan musician who is most famously known for creating ‘La cumparsita,’ one of the most renowned tangos in the world.