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La violeta

La violeta is a Tango written by Cátulo Castillo and recorded by Aníbal Troilo in NaN. The Tango La violeta is written by Cátulo Castillo, Aníbal Troilo has recorded La violeta with the singer Jorge Casal.
“La Violeta,” or “The Violet,” is a piece that encapsulates the delicate beauty and subtle strength of this unassuming flower. Like a whisper of spring, it fills the air with a gentle, yet persistent melody. This music tenderly weaves through emotions, hinting at resilience hidden beneath the fragile petals, much like the bloom it serenades.

Tango

Style

Aníbal Troilo

Orchestra

Jorge Casal

Singer

Nicolás Olivari

Author

Cátulo Castillo

Composer

(unknown date)

Date

Jorge Casal
Jorge Casal
Aníbal Troilo
Aníbal Troilo

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Domingo Federico – Cumpleaños de mi madre – 1953/11/4
Domingo Federico – Orilla – 1960/1/1
Roberto Firpo – Yo me quiero disfrazar – 1928/2/29
Roberto Firpo – De vuelta al suburbio – 1932/4/7
Roberto Firpo – La murra – 1937/2/15
Roberto Firpo – Que salga el toro – 1927/11/16
Roberto Firpo – Risa de mujer – 1928/2/23
Francisco Rotundo – Al pie de la Santa Cruz – 1949/1/1
Francisco Rotundo – Sus ojos se cerraron – 1955/12/6
Francisco Rotundo – Milonguera – 1954/4/12
Francisco Rotundo – Llorando la carta – 1951/9/10
Francisco Rotundo – Lo que me hablaron de vos – 1956/9/10

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.

(unknown date) – Mi vieja viola – Anibal Troilo
(unknown date) – NP (No place) – Anibal Troilo
(unknown date) – Preparense – Anibal Troilo
(unknown date) – Responso – Anibal Troilo
(unknown date) – Tanguango – Anibal Troilo

Lyrics Translation of the Tango La violeta

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

Letra del Tango La violeta

Con el codo en la mesa mugrienta
y la vista clavada en el suelo,
piensa el tano Domingo Polenta
en el drama de su inmigración.
Y en la sucia cantina que canta
la nostalgia del viejo paese
desafina su ronca garganta
ya curtida de vino carlón.

E La Violeta la va, la va, la va;
la va sul campo che lei si sognaba
ch’era suo yinyín que guardándola estaba…

Él también busca su soñado bien
desde aquel día, tan lejano ya,
que con su carga de ilusión saliera
como La Violeta que la va, la va…

Canzoneta de pago lejano
que idealiza la sucia taberna
y que brilla en los ojos del tano
con la perla de algún lagrimón…
La aprendió cuando vino con otros
encerrado en la panza de un buque,
y es con ella, metiendo batuque,
que consuela su desilusión.

English lyrics of the Tango "La violeta"

With an elbow on the grimy table
and his eyes fixed on the ground,
the Italian Domingo Polenta ponders
the drama of his immigration.
And in the dirty tavern that sings,
the nostalgia for the old country,
his hoarse throat off-key
already seasoned by cheap wine.

And La Violeta goes, goes, goes;
it goes on the field that she dreamed of,
that was her yinyín, watching her…

He also seeks his dreamed good
since that day, now so distant,
when with his load of illusion he set out
like La Violeta that goes, goes…

Little song of a far-off place
that idealizes the dirty tavern
and shines in the Italian’s eyes
with the pearl of a tear…
He learned it when he came with others
shut within the belly of a ship,
and it’s with it, creating rhythm,
that he consoles his disillusionment.

La violeta by Cátulo Castillo

La violeta is a Tango written by and composed by Cátulo Castillo.

Story behind the Tango La violeta


“La violeta” is a tango that tells the story of an immigrant, Domingo Polenta, and his nostalgic longing for his homeland. With his elbows resting on a grimy table and eyes fixed on the ground, Domingo reflects on the emotional struggle of leaving his country. The lyrics depict a personal drama marked by immigration, a common theme in the early 20th-century Buenos Aires, where many Europeans sought a new life.

Symbolism of La violeta


The song uses potent symbols and language to convey emotional depth. The mention of “El Tano Domingo Polenta” symbolizes the Italian immigrant experience. “La Violeta,” a recurring motif in the song, suggests a fleeting hope or dream—something beautiful yet hard to attain. The song within the lyrics, sung in a dingy tavern, stands for nostalgia and disillusionment, a common refuge for immigrants coping with homesickness. The vivid imagery of a “sucia cantina” (dirty tavern) and a “ronca garganta” (hoarse throat) further highlights a life saturated with struggle and longing. Key phrases such as “Canzoneta de pago lejano” and “perla de algún lagrimón” are central to the song’s themes: the canzoneta (a type of Italian folk song) represents a distant home, and the “pearl of some tear” evokes the precious yet painful memories of the past.

La violeta in historic Context


Buenos Aires, in the early 20th century, was a melting pot of cultures, heavily influenced by European immigration. This socio-cultural backdrop adds layers to the narrative of longing and displacement. Italians, as represented by Domingo Polenta, faced the harsh realities of adapting to a new land while cherishing the memories of their origins. The tango genre itself, blossoming in this era, served as a voice for such multicultural experiences, blending diverse musical influences.


Cátulo Castillo, the composer of “La violeta,” was a prominent figure in tango music, known for his poignant lyrics and evocative melodies that captured the essence of Buenos Aires’ cultural tapestry.