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Lunes (Lunes trece)

Lunes (Lunes trece) is a Tango written by José Luis Padula and recorded by Edgardo Donato in 1931. The Tango Lunes (Lunes trece) is written by José Luis Padula, Edgardo Donato has recorded Lunes (Lunes trece) with the singer Luis Díaz.
“Lunes (Lunes trece)” translates to “Monday (Monday the Thirteenth)” in English. This intriguing title suggests a day overshadowed by superstition, where the usual melancholy of Monday merges with the unease of the number thirteen. Through its melody, the piece captures the tension and unexpected beauty found in the shadows of an otherwise ordinary day.

Tango

Style

Edgardo Donato

Orchestra

Luis Díaz

Singer

Francisco García Jiménez

Author

José Luis Padula

Composer

1931/1/1

Date

Luis Díaz
Luis Díaz
Edgardo Donato
Edgardo Donato

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Lunes (Lunes trece) recorded by other Orchestras

Lunes (Lunes trece) recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Lunes (Lunes trece)

This is the translation of the Tango “Lunes (Lunes trece)” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Lunes (Lunes trece)” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Lunes (Lunes trece)

Un catedrático escarba su bolsillo
pa’ ver si un níquel le alcanza pa’ un completo…
Ayer -¡qué dulce!-, la fija del potrillo;
hoy -¡qué vinagre!-, rompiendo los boletos…
El almanaque nos bate que es lunes,
que se ha acabado la vida bacana,
que viene al humo una nueva semana
con su mistongo programa escorchador.

Rumbeando pa’l taller
va Josefina,
que en la milonga, ayer,
la iba de fina.
La reina del salón
ayer se oyó llamar…
Del trono se bajó
pa’ir a trabajar…
El lungo Pantaleón
ata la chata
de traje fulerón
y en alpargata.
Ayer en el Paddock
jugaba diez y diez…
Hoy va a cargar
carbón al Dique 3.

Piantó el domingo del placer,
bailongo, póker y champán.
Hasta el más seco pudo ser
por diez minutos un bacán.
El triste lunes se asomó,
mi sueño al diablo fue a parar,
la redoblona se cortó
y pa’l laburo hay que rumbear.

Pero, ¿qué importa que en este monte criollo
hoy muestre un lunes en puerta el almanaque?
Si en esa carta caímos en el hoyo,
ya ha de venir un domingo que nos saque.
No hay mal, muchachos, que dure cien años
y ligaremos también un bizcocho…
A lo mejor acertamos las ocho
¡y quién te ataja ese día, corazón!…

English lyrics of the Tango "Lunes (Lunes trece)"

A professor digs in his pocket
to see if a nickel is enough for a hot dog…
Yesterday -oh so sweet!-, betting on the sure winner,
today -oh so sour!-, tearing up the tickets…
The calendar tells us it’s Monday,
the good life is over,
here comes another week
with its dreadful routine starting anew.

Heading to the shop
goes Josefina,
who at last night’s dance
appeared so refined.
Called the queen of the ball
just yesterday…
From her throne, she stepped down
to go to work…
Tall Pantaleón
hitches the cart
in shabby suit
and sandals.
Yesterday at the Paddock
he bet ten and ten…
Today he’s off
to load coal at Dock 3.

Sunday’s pleasures have vanished,
dancing, poker, and champagne.
Even the driest among us
could play the rich man for ten minutes.
But grim Monday has shown its face,
my dream went to hell,
the double bet failed,
and it’s off to work we must march.

But, what does it matter that in this native brush
a Monday now stands at the door on the calendar?
If we fell hard this time,
a Sunday will surely come to pull us out.
No evil, guys, lasts a hundred years
and we’ll also win something decent…
Maybe we’ll hit the jackpot
and who can stop you then, my heart!…

Lunes (Lunes trece) by Francisco García Jiménez

Lunes (Lunes trece) is a Tango written by Francisco García Jiménez and composed by José Luis Padula.



Story behind the Tango Lunes (Lunes trece)

The tango “Lunes (Lunes trece)” vividly paints a picture of the stark contrast between the weekend’s revelry and the mundane reality returning on Monday. The lyrics describe various characters transitioning from their glamorous Sunday adventures back to their routine weekday jobs. For example, Josefina, who from being “the queen of the salon” on Sunday, returns to her role at the factory on Monday. This cyclical pattern underscores the universal struggle of balancing fantasy and reality, offering a reflective look at the fleeting nature of joy.



Symbolism of Lunes (Lunes trece)

Jiménez employs powerful symbolic contrasts to underline life’s unpredictable ups and downs. Sunday represents a temporary escape from reality, highlighted by festivities such as dance (“bailongo”), poker, and champagne, symbolizing a short-lived realm of abundance and luxury. The transition to Monday symbolizes the return to daily responsibilities and hardships. Notably, the metaphor of gambling and the mention of the race track (“Ayer en el Paddock jugaba diez y diez…”) symbolize the risks and randomness of life, while the eventual transition to work (“Hoy va a cargar carbón al Dique 3”) is emblematic of the harsh realities that follow the fleeting weekend euphoria.



Lunes (Lunes trece) in Historic Context

Written and recorded in early 1930s Argentina, “Lunes (Lunes trece)” emerged during a period marked by economic fluctuation and social change. The tango reflects the sentiments of the working and middle classes, who often indulged over the weekend only to face the grim realities of their weekdays. The era was characterized by its sharp social contrasts, and tangos frequently communicated the emotional landscape of ordinary people grappling with their aspirations and realities.



Francisco García Jiménez

Francisco García Jiménez was an influential Argentinian lyricist known for capturing the spirit and struggles of the urban landscape and its people through his tangos.