Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Madreselva (La polla)

Madreselva (La polla) is a Tango written by Francisco Canaro and recorded by Ángel d’Agostino in 1944. The Tango Madreselva (La polla) is written by Francisco Canaro, Ángel d’Agostino has recorded Madreselva (La polla) with the singer Ángel Vargas.
“Madreselva (La polla),” which translates to “Honeysuckle (The Hen)” in English, evokes the fragrant nostalgia of wild honeysuckle vines intertwined with life’s humble beginnings. The honeysuckle symbolizes resilience and memories of sweeter, simpler times, while “The Hen” speaks to nurturing, everyday comforts. Together, they weave a bittersweet tango, celebrating the beauty in life’s delicate balance between past and present.

Tango

Style

Ángel d'Agostino

Orchestra

Ángel Vargas

Singer

Luis César Amadori

Author

Francisco Canaro

Composer

1944/12/5

Date

Ángel Vargas
Ángel Vargas
Ángel d'Agostino
Ángel d’Agostino

Discover Other Orchestras

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.

Madreselva (La polla) recorded by other Orchestras

Madreselva (La polla) recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Madreselva (La polla)

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

Letra del Tango Madreselva (La polla)

Vieja pared
del arrabal,
tu sombra fue
mi compañera.
De mi niñez
sin esplendor
la amiga fue
tu madreselva.
Cuando temblando
mi amor primero
con esperanzas
besaba mi alma,
yo junto a vos,
pura y feliz,
cantaba así
mi primera confesión.

Madreselvas en flor
que me vieron nacer
y en la vieja pared
sorprendieron mi amor,
tu humilde caricia
es como el cariño
primero y querido
que siento por él.
Madreselvas en flor
que trepándose van
es tu abrazo tenaz
y dulzón como aquel,
si todos los años
tus flores renacen,
hacé que no muera
mi primer amor…
Pasaron los años
y mis desengaños
yo vengo a contarte,
mi vieja pared…

Así aprendí
que hay que fingir
para vivir
decentemente;
que amor y fe
mentiras son
y del dolor
se ríe la gente…
Hoy que la vida
me ha castigado
y me ha enseñado
su credo amargo,
vieja pared,
con emoción
me acerco a vos
y te digo como ayer.

Madreselvas en flor
que me vieron nacer
y en la vieja pared
sorprendieron mi amor,
tu humilde caricia
es como el cariño
primero y querido
que nunca olvidé.
Madreselvas en flor
que trepándose van,
es tu abrazo tenaz
y dulzón como aquel…
Si todos los años
tus flores renacen,
¿por qué ya no vuelve
mi primer amor?

English lyrics of the Tango "Madreselva (La polla)"

Old wall
of the neighborhood,
your shadow was
my companion.
From my childhood
lacking splendor,
the friend was
your honeysuckle.
When trembling,
my first love
with hopes
kissed my soul,
I, beside you,
pure and happy,
sang thus
my first confession.

Honeysuckles in bloom
that saw me born
and on the old wall
witnessed my love,
your humble caress
is like the affection
first and beloved
I feel for him.
Honeysuckles in bloom
that climb onward,
your tenacious embrace
is sweet like that one,
if every year
your flowers rebloom,
make sure my first love
does not die…
Years have passed
and my disillusions,
I come to tell you,
my old wall…

So I learned
that one must pretend
to live
decently;
that love and faith
are lies,
and people laugh
at the pain…
Today life
has punished me
and taught me
its bitter creed,
old wall,
with emotion
I approach you
and tell you like yesterday.

Honeysuckles in bloom
that saw me born
and on the old wall
surprised my love,
your humble caress
is like the affection
first and cherished
I never forgot.
Honeysuckles in bloom
climbing onward,
your tenacious embrace
is sweet like that one…
If every year
your flowers rebloom,
why doesn’t my first love
come back?

Madreselva (La polla) by Luis César Amadori

Madreselva (La polla) is a Tango written by Luis César Amadori and composed by Francisco Canaro.



Story behind the Tango Madreselva (La polla)

The lyrics of “Madreselva (La polla)” evoke a deep sense of nostalgia and longing, intertwined with a backdrop of personal growth and the often painful lessons learned through life’s experiences. The song opens with the narrator recalling the old wall of a neighborhood (arrabal), which served as a companion during their unremarkable childhood. This wall, overgrown with honeysuckle (madreselva), becomes a symbol of innocence and the listener’s confidant during their first love.

As the song progresses, the themes of disillusionment and the harsh realities of adulthood contrast with the innocence of yesteryears. The narrator expresses a learned need to “pretend” to live decently, indicating a departure from the truth and simplicity experienced in youth. The return to the old wall and the enduring honeysuckle serves as a poignant reminder of their first, undying love, which never returned despite the annual reblooming of the flowers.



Symbolism of Madreselva (La polla)

The “madreselva” or honeysuckle symbolizes the sweet, climbing nature of love that grows and persists against the backdrop of an old wall—a steadfast, if not aging, witness to the narrator’s deepest, most personal emotions. Key phrases such as “tu humilde caricia es como el cariño primero y querido que siento por él” (your humble caress is like the first and beloved affection I feel for him) amplify this symbolism, connecting the honeysuckle’s embrace to first love’s enduring impact.

This connection is strengthened further by the repetition of the line “Madreselvas en flor que me vieron nacer” (Honeysuckles in bloom that saw me born), suggesting that the growth and life cycle of the honeysuckle mirrors that of the narrator’s own experiences from birth to the present struggles.



Madreselva (La polla) in historic Context

Recorded in 1944 in Argentina, “Madreselva” reflects a period of emotional introspection and cultural expression during a tense global atmosphere—World War II raged on, and Argentina itself would soon face significant political changes. The tango, a dance of intimacy and complex emotions, serves as the perfect medium to explore themes of love, loss, and the passage of time against such a historical backdrop. It’s possible that the societal pressures and the harsh reality of the time influenced the song’s themes of disillusionment and the facade one must maintain (“que hay que fingir para vivir decentemente”).



Luis César Amadori

Luis César Amadori was an Argentine theatre director, screenwriter, and lyricist, well-known for his significant contributions to the Argentine cultural scene, particularly during the mid-20th century.