Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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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 mariposa is a Tango written by Celedonio Flores and composed by Pedro Maffia.
“La mariposa,” meaning “The Butterfly” in English, tells a poignant tale of love and betrayal. The lyrics reflect a deep sense of regret, not for loving passionately, but for the inevitable betrayal and forgetfulness of the beloved. The protagonist expresses sorrow through music, singing to keep from crying, illustrating the classic tango theme of blending pain with beauty. The narrative culminates in a stark realization of deceit as the butterfly, symbolizing the lover, flits carelessly from one flower to another, leaving a trail of broken hearts.
The butterfly is a powerful symbol in “La mariposa.” Traditionally associated with beauty and transience, here it represents the lover’s fleeting attention and superficial affections. The rose garden (“el rosal”) of the protagonist’s love being robbed by the butterfly conveys the exploitation of sincere emotions for transient pleasures. The repeated warnings at the end about the dangers of seductive, yet insincere passions hint at a moral lesson about the consequences of deceit. Phrases like “engañarla con tu amor” (to deceive with your love) and “cuidado, mariposa” (be careful, butterfly) underline themes of caution and awareness in romantic pursuits.
“La mariposa” was penned and recorded in Argentina in 1938, a time when Tango was both a reflection of the social climate and a form of escapism from it. This period in Argentina was marked by political and economic shifts, which often manifested in the themes of tango lyrics as expressions of loss, nostalgia, and disillusionment. “La mariposa” uses personal betrayal as a metaphor to possibly critique broader societal changes, capturing the emotional turbulence of its time while warning against the dangers of superficial allure, whether in love or in other temptations of the era.
Celedonio Flores was a famed Argentine poet and tango lyricist known for his poignant and emotionally rich lyrics, often infused with the themes of love, betrayal, and the urban landscape.