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La gayola

La gayola is a Tango written by Rafael Tuegols and recorded by Armando Pontier in 1957. The Tango La gayola is written by Rafael Tuegols, Armando Pontier has recorded La gayola with the singer Julio Sosa.
“La Gayola,” which translates to “The Cage” in English, captures the soul’s entrapment within the confines of destiny’s bars. The music, like the restless fluttering of a captive bird, expresses both the lament and the bittersweet beauty found in longing. It’s a dance of passion and melancholy, draped over the whispered echoes of freedom lost and sought.

Tango

Style

Armando Pontier

Orchestra

Julio Sosa

Singer

Armando Tagini

Author

Rafael Tuegols

Composer

1957/7/22

Date

Julio Sosa
Julio Sosa
Armando Pontier
Armando Pontier

Discover Other Orchestras

Ricardo Tanturi – Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle) – 1941/8/14
Ricardo Tanturi – De hermano a hermano – 1959/1/29
Ricardo Tanturi – El sueño del pibe – 1945/6/14
Ricardo Tanturi – Sollozo de bandoneón – 1943/12/16
Ricardo Tanturi – Tus besos fueron mios – 1946/11/29
Osvaldo Pugliese – A un artista del Pueblo (A un artista plástico) – 1980/6/3
Osvaldo Pugliese – Mala junta – 1985/12/26
Osvaldo Pugliese – Que nunca me falte – 1951/12/6
Osvaldo Pugliese – Desvelo (De flor en flor) – 1953/8/6
Osvaldo Pugliese – Corchito – 1972/12/27
Juan MAGLIO – Milonguero viejo – 1928/4/2
Anibal Troilo – El motivo (Pobre paica) – 1970/8/13
Anibal Troilo – Volver – 1970/8/13

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

1957/7/22 – Besame mi amor – Armando Pontier
1957/7/19 – Susanita (Yo me quedo con el tango) – Juan D-Arienzo
1957/7/19 – Don Goyo – Juan D-Arienzo
1957/7/26 – Tomaditos de la mano – Enrique Rodriguez
1957/7/26 – Una mentira mas – Enrique Rodriguez
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’m leaving never to return…

I’ve come to say goodbye and want the pleasure

of looking at you face to face and contemplating myself in your eyes,

silently, thoroughly, as you watched me yesterday…

I’ve come so together we can remember the past

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

to remember the time when I was an honest man,

and my mother’s love was a poncho thrown

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

One night it was death that dressed my soul in mourning,

God called my tender mother 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…

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

and later, calm again, my only hope dead,

I dried some bitter tears in a tavern.

They locked me up for many years in the grim cell,

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 crust, how many times I lined up!

Dawns found me over and over at a threshold.

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; I’m happy that happiness overflows for you…

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

so I won’t lack flowers when I’m in 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 reconciliation and reflections of a man who, having suffered great personal losses and having been betrayed by someone he trusted, returns to seek closure rather than revenge. The title phrase “La gayola,” which translates to “The Cage” in English, symbolizes imprisonment or entrapment, both literally, as the narrator has been in prison, and metaphorically, reflecting his emotional state.

Symbolism of La gayola

Significant symbolism in “La gayola” includes references to the “poncho” his mother’s love laid over him, suggesting protection and warmth against life’s hardships. The cage (“gayola”) represents his time imprisoned, encapsulating feelings of restriction and isolation. His betrayal and loss transformed his life’s path, leading him down to despair and solemn contemplation.

La gayola in historic Context

The tango, recorded in 1957, mirrors post-war Argentina’s societal issues—themes of loss, betrayal, and the search for redemption are prevalent. The erosion of traditional values and the struggle for existential meaning during times of profound societal change are encapsulated in the narrator’s journey and his confrontation with past demons. His recounting of lining up for bread (“Por la gracia de un mendrugo, ¡cuantas veces hice cola!”) hints at the economic difficulties common in Argentina during this period.

Armando Tagini

Armando Tagini was an esteemed lyricist and composer, renowned for contributing deeply emotional and introspective lyrics to the genre of tango.