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La gayola

La gayola is a Tango written by Rafael Tuegols and recorded by Carlos Gardel in 1927. The Tango La gayola is written by Rafael Tuegols, Carlos Gardel has recorded La gayola with the singer Guit. José Ricardo, Guillermo Barbieri.
“La gayola,” meaning “The Cage” in English, captures the emotion of feeling trapped in life’s relentless cycle. This evocative tango embodies the longing for freedom and the bittersweet struggle against societal confines. The music’s passionate rhythm and poignant melody tell a story of yearning and resilience, echoing the heart’s desire to break free.

Tango

Style

Carlos Gardel

Orchestra

Guit. José Ricardo, Guillermo Barbieri

Singer

Armando Tagini

Author

Rafael Tuegols

Composer

1927/8/20

Date

Guit. José Ricardo, Guillermo Barbieri
Guit. José Ricardo, Guillermo Barbieri
Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel

Discover Other Orchestras

Rodolfo Biagi – El carrerito – 1956/8/28
Rodolfo Biagi – Deja el mundo como está – 1940/3/14
Rodolfo Biagi – Organito de la tarde – 1956/3/24
Rodolfo Biagi – Sueño de juventud – 1944/4/11
Rodolfo Biagi – La novena – 1939/4/27
Osvaldo Pugliese – Entrador – 1952/5/6
Osvaldo Pugliese – Nido gaucho – 1964/12/1
Osvaldo Pugliese – Cómo se pianta la vida – 1981/7/8
Osvaldo Pugliese – La cieguita – 1949/9/27
Osvaldo Pugliese – Quién – 1958/3/26
Juan Maglio – Milonguero viejo – 1928/4/2
Julio De Caro – Potpourri federal – 1935/7/18
Julio De Caro – El abrojito – 1925/1/1
Julio De Caro – Sentencia – 1926/11/15
Julio De Caro – El monito – 1949/9/29
Julio De Caro – Maipo – 1941/1/1

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 gayola recorded by other Orchestras

La gayola recorded by other Orchestras

1927/8/20 – Caminito – Carlos Gardel
1927/8/20 – Farolito viejo – Carlos Gardel
1927/8/20 – Gloria – Carlos Gardel
1927/8/20 – A la luz del candil – Francisco Canaro
1927/8/20 – Viejo amor – Francisco Canaro
La gayola – 1952/9/25 – Pedro Laurenz – Alfredo Del Rio
La gayola – 1941/6/9 – Enrique Rodriguez – Armando Moreno
La gayola – 1957/7/22 – Armando Pontier – Julio Sosa
La gayola – 1962/1/1 – Horacio Salgan – Edmundo Rivero
La gayola – 1927/8/20 – Carlos Gardel – Guit. Jose Ricardo
Guillermo Barbieri
La gayola – 1927/6/19 – Francisco Canaro – Instrumental

Lyrics Translation of the Tango La gayola

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

Letra del Tango La gayola

¡No te asustes ni me huyas!… No he venido pa’ vengarme

si mañana, justamente, yo me voy pa’ no volver…

He venido a despedirme y el gustazo quiero darme

de mirarte frente a frente y en tus ojos contemplarme,

silenciosa, largamente, como me miraba ayer…



He venido pa’que juntos recordemos el pasado

como dos buenos amigos que hace rato no se ven;

a acordarme de aquel tiempo en que yo era un hombre honrado

y el cariño de mi madre era un poncho que había echado

sobre mi alma noble y buena contra el frío del desdén.



Una noche fue la muerte quien vistió mi alma de duelo

a mi tierna madrecita la llamó a su lado Dios…

Y en mis sueños parecía que la pobre, desde el cielo,

me decía que eras buena, que confiara siempre en vos.



Pero me jugaste sucio y, sediento de venganza…

mi cuchillo en un mal rato envainé en un corazón…

y, más tarde, ya sereno, muerta mi única esperanza,

unas lágrimas amargas las sequé en un bodegón.



Me encerraron muchos años en la sórdida gayola

y una tarde me libraron… pa’ mi bien…o pa’ mi mal…

Fui sin rumbo por las calles y rodé como una bola;

Por la gracia de un mendrugo, ¡cuantas veces hice cola!

las auroras me encontraron largo a largo en un umbral.



Hoy ya no me queda nada; ni un refugio…¡Estoy tan pobre!

Solamente vine a verte pa’ dejarte mi perdón…

Te lo juro; estoy contento que la dicha a vos te sobre…

Voy a trabajar muy lejos…a juntar algunos cobres

pa’ que no me falten flores cuando esté dentro ‘el cajón.

English lyrics of the Tango "La gayola"

Don’t be scared or run from me! I’m not here for revenge,

tomorrow, just so, I leave never to return.

I’ve come to say goodbye and take the pleasure

to look at you face to face and in your eyes behold myself,

silently, deeply, as I did yesterday…

I’ve come so together we remember the past

like two good friends who haven’t seen each other in a while;

to recall that time when I was an honorable man

and my mother’s love was a poncho thrown

over my noble, good soul against the cold of disdain.

One night death dressed my soul in mourning

my tender mother was called by God to his side…

And in my dreams, it seemed that she, from heaven,

told me you were good, that I should always trust you.

But you played me dirty, and, thirsty for revenge…

my knife in a bad moment I sheathed in a heart…

and, later, already calm, my only hope dead,

I dried some bitter tears in a tavern.

They locked me up for many years in the gloomy cage

and one afternoon they released me… for my good… or my bad…

I wandered aimlessly through the streets and rolled like a ball;

For the grace of a crumb, how many times I lined up!

Dawns found me again and again on a doorstep.

Today I have nothing left; not a refuge… I’m so poor!

I only came to see you to give you my forgiveness…

I swear; I’m happy that happiness overflows for you…

I’m going to work far away… to gather some pennies

so I won’t lack flowers when I’m inside ‘the box.

La gayola by Armando Tagini

La gayola is a Tango written by Armando Tagini and composed by Rafael Tuegols.



Story behind the Tango La gayola

The lyrics of “La gayola” narrate the poignant story of a man confronting his past and seeking closure from a former lover. The song begins with the protagonist asserting that he has not come for vengeance but to bid farewell as he will be leaving never to return. He expresses a desire to revisit their shared memories and reflect on his life’s transformation from an honest man to one marked by deception and crime. The term “gayola,” which translates to “jail cell” or “small cage” in English, symbolizes the imprisonment and suffering he endured, culminating in his desire to reconcile and forgive before departing for a distant place to start anew.



Symbolism of La gayola

The symbolism in “La gayola” deepens the narrative, intertwining the personal and the emotional prisons in which the protagonist finds himself. The recurring motif of the cage represents his literal incarceration as well as the metaphorical imprisonment by his past actions and mistakes. The loss of his mother, and his subsequent descent into crime and betrayal, accentuate his emotional turmoil and the darkness that overshadows his life. His journey from anger to forgiveness, and eventually seeking redemption, mirrors the broader human experiences of suffering, reflection, and the quest for atonement.



La gayola in historic Context

Set in the socio-economic context of Argentina in 1927, “La gayola” reflects the struggles of the lower classes and the complexities of urban life during a period of significant change. The historical backdrop of Buenos Aires—a city marked by rapid growth, migration, and social disparities—provides a canvas for the narrative of decline and redemption. This era also saw the peak of the Tango as a form of artistic expression that candidly explored themes of love, betrayal, and hardship, resonating deeply with the audience of its time.



Armando Tagini

Armando Tagini was a prolific lyricist in the Tango genre, known for his eloquent and emotive storytelling.