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La gayola

La gayola is a Tango written by Rafael Tuegols and recorded by Enrique Rodríguez in 1941. The Tango La gayola is written by Rafael Tuegols, Enrique Rodríguez has recorded La gayola with the singer Armando Moreno.
“La Gayola” translates to “The Cage” in English. This poignant title encapsulates the feeling of being trapped, not just physically but emotionally, ensnared by unspoken desires and societal constraints. The music unfolds like a dance of shadows, weaving tales of longing and heartache, echoing the struggles of breaking free from the confines of the soul’s own barriers.

Tango

Style

Enrique Rodríguez

Orchestra

Armando Moreno

Singer

Armando Tagini

Author

Rafael Tuegols

Composer

1941/6/9

Date

Armando Moreno
Armando Moreno
Enrique Rodríguez
Enrique Rodríguez

Discover Other Orchestras

Miguel Caló – Percal – 1943/2/25
Miguel Caló – Trapitos – 1946/3/15
Miguel Caló – Tristezas de la calle Corrientes – 1942/9/2
Miguel Caló – Tabaco – 1944/6/14
Miguel Caló – A la gran muñeca – 1948/5/1
Osvaldo Fresedo – Julián – 1945/11/19
Osvaldo Fresedo – El mareo – 1933/6/6
Osvaldo Fresedo – Tengo – 1966/6/24
Osvaldo Fresedo – Canción de la marina – 1932/1/1
Osvaldo Fresedo – Acosta en punta – 1928/2/2
Armando PONTIER – Verdemar – 1960/7/21
Juan D’Arienzo – No llores madre – 1936/7/3
Juan D’Arienzo – Mi cariñito – 1949/12/19
Juan D’Arienzo – No te hagas la lechuguita – 1968/8/27
Juan D’Arienzo – Orlando Goñi – 1966/11/17
Juan D’Arienzo – Yo quiero cantar un tango – 1943/9/28

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

1941/6/9 – Adios querida – Juan D-Arienzo
1941/6/9 – Tierrita – Juan D-Arienzo
1941/6/9 – Por mis trabucos – Enrique Rodriguez
1941/6/11 – A oscuras – Edgardo Donato
1941/6/11 – Organillero – Edgardo Donato
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

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 away!… I haven’t come for revenge
if tomorrow, precisely, I’ll leave to never return…
I’ve come to say goodbye and I want the pleasure
of meeting you face to face and seeing myself in your eyes,
silently, for a long stretch, as I did yesterday.

I’ve come so we together can remember the past
like two good friends who haven’t seen each other in a while;
to recall that time when I was an honest man
and my mother’s love was a cloak laid
over my noble soul against the cold of disdain.

One night it was death that dressed my soul in mourning
my tender mother was called to God’s side…
And in my dreams it seemed that the poor lady, from heaven,
told me you were good, that I should always trust you.

But you played dirty and, thirsty for revenge…
my knife in a bad moment, I sheathed in a heart …
and, later, calm again, my only hope dead,
I dried some bitter tears in a tavern.

They locked me up for many years in a dreary cage
and one afternoon they released me…for my good…or my harm…
I aimlessly wandered the streets and rolled like a ball;
For the grace of a crust, how many times I queued!
dawns found me stretched out on a doorstep.

Today I have nothing left; not a refuge…I’m so poor!
I only came to see you to leave you my forgiveness…
I swear to you; I’m happy that you overflow with joy…
I’m going to work far away…to gather some coins
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

“La gayola” narrates the poignant tale of a man reflecting on his past life, filled with loss and betrayal. This tango captures the protagonist’s visit to an old lover to whom he bears no grudge, despite the harsh turns his life has taken. Through a heartfelt monologue, he recounts the shift from a once honorable life, touched by his mother’s love, to a life marred by vengeance and crime that eventually led him to imprisonment (“la gayola” being a slang term for jail). The lyrics tell a dramatic story of personal downfall, repentance, and the sobering acceptance of his fate.



Symbolism of La gayola

The term “La gayola” symbolizes more than just physical imprisonment; it represents the cages of betrayal, grief, and despair that can confine the human spirit. Key phrases such as “el cariño de mi madre era un poncho que había echado sobre mi alma noble y buena” symbolize the protective and warm love of his mother which he once had, contrasting sharply with his eventual emotional and literal imprisonment. The journey from being draped in the warmth of maternal love to the cold isolation of the “gayola” underscores a tragic personal transformation and loss of innocence.



La gayola in historic Context

“La gayola” was written and recorded in 1941 in Argentina, a time of significant political and social change in the country. This period saw the rising influence of populism and the beginnings of Peronism. Such times were often turbulent and marked by personal and societal struggles, which are echoed in the tango’s themes of moral fall, societal betrayal, and search for redemption. The tale within “La gayola” uses personal tragedy as a reflective mirror to the broader societal shifts and instability, making a profound statement on the human condition in times of societal upheaval.



Armando Tagini

Armando Tagini was an influential figure in the tango scene, recognized for his deep and evocative lyrics that often explored themes of love, betrayal, and existential sorrow.