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La gayola

La gayola is a Tango written by Rafael Tuegols and recorded by Horacio Salgán in 1962. The Tango La gayola is written by Rafael Tuegols, Horacio Salgán has recorded La gayola with the singer Edmundo Rivero.
“La Gayola,” or “The Cage,” captures the essence of confinement and yearning. Within its haunting melodies and intricate rhythms, the piece evokes a sense of longing for freedom from life’s constraints. The music paints a vivid portrait of emotions trapped within invisible bars, each note a plea for liberation in a world that often feels like a beautifully tragic enclosure.

Tango

Style

Horacio Salgán

Orchestra

Edmundo Rivero

Singer

Armando Tagini

Author

Rafael Tuegols

Composer

1962/1/1

Date

Edmundo Rivero
Edmundo Rivero
Horacio Salgán
Horacio Salgán

Discover Other Orchestras

Miguel Caló – Reminiscencias – 1962/9/1
Miguel Caló – Pedacito de cielo – 1942/9/2
Miguel Caló – De levita y con bastón – 1972/1/1
Miguel Caló – Un tango para la historia – 1958/7/11
Miguel Caló – Los leñadores – 1936/3/14
Orquesta Típica Victor – Ecos de España – 1931/12/3
Orquesta Típica Victor – Trapo Viejo – 1926/11/10
Orquesta Típica Victor – Virgencita del rocio – 1932/6/16
Orquesta Típica Victor – Che maton – 1929/12/6
Orquesta Típica Victor – Suspiros de España – 1939/10/4
Ricardo Tanturi – Vieja esquina – 1943/8/6
Ricardo Tanturi – Trasnochando – 1965/1/1
Ricardo Tanturi – Así era ella muchachos – 1946/3/13
Ricardo Tanturi – Tango – 1942/7/20
Ricardo Tanturi – Dos que se aman – 1948/6/25
Armando Pontier – Cristal – 1962/4/27
Armando Pontier – Pimienta – 1966/12/16
Armando Pontier – Tierra adentro – 1968/4/29
Armando Pontier – Seguime corazón – 1968/4/1
Armando Pontier – Al mundo le falta un tornillo – 1959/6/26

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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

1962/1/1 – El bar de Rosendo – Angel d-Agostino
1962/1/1 – Gerardo Matos Rodriguez – Angel d-Agostino
1962/1/1 – Yo soy el tango senores – Angel d-Agostino
1962/1/1 – A la luz del candil – Jose Basso
1962/1/1 – Atardece – Jose Basso
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 frightened or run away!… I didn’t come to seek revenge

if tomorrow, just as planned, I’ll leave for good and won’t return…

I’ve come to say goodbye and indulge myself the pleasure

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

silently, for a long time, as you used to look at me yesterday…



I came so we together can recall the past

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

to remember that time when I was an honorable man

and my mother’s love was a cloak thrown

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



One night it was death that shrouded my soul in mourning

my tender mother was called to God’s side…

And in my dreams it seemed the poor woman, 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 sheathed in a heart…

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

bitter tears I dried in a tavern.



They locked me up many years in a dreary cage

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

I wandered aimlessly through 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 give you my forgiveness…

I swear; I’m glad that happiness abounds for you…
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

The lyrics of “La gayola” narrate the poignant return of a man who has been wronged by life and love, seeking closure and a final farewell before departing forever. As the protagonist confronts his past lover, he expresses a complex blend of forgiveness, nostalgia, and resignation. His story unfolds from losing his honored position and the death of his mother to his descent into vengeance which leads him to prison, termed “la gayola” in the song, symbolizing his trapped and caged existence. Despite the bleakness, the narrative ends on a note of acceptance and the hope for peace in his final days.



Symbolism of La gayola

“La gayola,” translating to “the cage” in English, is a powerful metaphor for the imprisonment both literal and metaphorical that the protagonist experiences. His incarceration represents his entrapment by his own actions, consequences, and the societal judgments that follow. This symbolism extends to the emotional and psychological confines that his past and his mistakes impose on him. Furthermore, the contrast between his mother’s pure love and his former lover’s betrayal highlights themes of trust and deception, deepening the emotional landscape of the Tango.



La gayola in historic Context

Recorded in 1962, a period marked by significant social and political changes in Argentina, “La gayola” resonates with themes of personal turmoil and societal judgment. During this era, Argentina faced internal strife and instability, which is reflected in the personal lament and social critique embedded in the lyrics. The narrative of falling from grace, confronting one’s demons, and seeking redemption mirrors the larger national quest for identity and stability amidst upheaval.



Armando Tagini

Armando Tagini was a renowned lyricist in Argentine Tango music, known for his profound and introspective approach to Tango lyrics.