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Mano a mano

Mano a mano is a Tango written by Carlos Gardel and recorded by Miguel Caló in 1965. The Tango Mano a mano is written by Carlos Gardel, Miguel Caló has recorded Mano a mano with the singer Lucho Gatica.
“Mano a Mano,” meaning “Hand in Hand,” evokes a dance of destiny where two souls entwine in a delicate embrace. It speaks of a heartfelt conversation between lovers or adversaries, where words are unspoken, yet deeply felt. The music moves like a dialogue of passion and rivalry, as each note traces the shared journey, step by step, hand in hand.

Tango

Style

Miguel Caló

Orchestra

Lucho Gatica

Singer

Celedonio Flores

Author

Carlos Gardel

Composer

1965/1/1

Date

Lucho Gatica
Lucho Gatica
Miguel Caló
Miguel Caló

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Mano a mano recorded by other Orchestras

Mano a mano recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Mano a mano

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

Letra del Tango Mano a mano

Rechiflado en mi tristeza, te evoco y veo que has sido

en mi pobre vida paria sólo una buena mujer.

Tu presencia de bacana puso calor en mi nido,

fuiste buena, consecuente, y yo sé que me has querido

como no quisiste a nadie, como no podrás querer.



Se dio el juego de remanye cuando vos, pobre percanta,

gambeteabas la pobreza en la casa de pensión.

Hoy sos toda una bacana, la vida te ríe y canta,

Ios morlacos del otario los jugás a la marchanta

como juega el gato maula con el mísero ratón.



Hoy tenés el mate lleno de infelices ilusiones,

te engrupieron los otarios, las amigas y el gavión;

la milonga, entre magnates, con sus locas tentaciones,

donde triunfan y claudican milongueras pretensiones,

se te ha entrado muy adentro en tu pobre corazón.



Nada debo agradecerte, mano a mano hemos quedado;

no me importa lo que has hecho, lo que hacés ni lo que harás…

Los favores recibidos creo habértelos pagado

y, si alguna deuda chica sin querer se me ha olvidado,

en la cuenta del otario que tenés se la cargás.



Mientras tanto, que tus triunfos, pobres triunfos pasajeros,

sean una larga fila de riquezas y placer;

que el bacán que te acamala tenga pesos duraderos,

que te abrás de las paradas con cafishos milongueros

y que digan los muchachos: Es una buena mujer.

Y mañana, cuando seas descolado mueble viejo

y no tengas esperanzas en tu pobre corazón,

si precisás una ayuda, si te hace falta un consejo,

acordate de este amigo que ha de jugarse el pellejo

pa’ayudarte en lo que pueda cuando llegue la ocasión.

English lyrics of the Tango "Mano a mano"

Lost in my sadness, I think of you and see you have been

in my down-and-out life merely a good woman.

Your high-class presence brought warmth to my nest,

you were kind, steadfast, and I know you loved me

as you loved no one else, as you cannot love again.

The game was rigged back when you, poor thing,

dodged poverty in the boarding house.

Now you’re all high-class, life smiles and sings to you,

you gamble away suckers’ money nonchalantly

like the sly cat plays with the poor mouse.

Today, your mind is full of sad delusions,
you’ve been deceived by fools, friends, and big shots;
the fancy dancehalls, with their crazy temptations,
where dreams of dancers both soar and fall,
have penetrated deep into your poor heart.

I owe you no thanks, we’re square;
I don’t care what you’ve done, do or will do …
The favors I received, I believe I’ve repaid you,
and if I’ve unintentionally overlooked some small debt,
just add it to the sucker’s tab you keep.

Meanwhile, may your fleeting triumphs,
be a long parade of wealth and pleasure;
may the big shot who keeps you have enduring cash,
may you leave the stages with slick dance hall sharks
and may the boys say: She’s a good woman.

And tomorrow, when you become a discarded old piece,
and have no hope left in your sad heart,
if you need help, or seek advice,
remember this friend who’ll risk it all
to aid you when the occasion arises.

Mano a mano by Celedonio Flores

Mano a mano is a Tango written by Celedonio Flores and composed by Carlos Gardel.



Story behind the Tango Mano a mano

Mano a mano” (Hand to hand) is a poignant look at a past romance where the speaker reminisces and confronts an old love. The lyrics unfold a tale of affection and life’s hardships, detailing a journey from loving intimacy to a sobering detachment. It speaks to the decline of a relationship, personal growth, and the complex interplay of memories and present realities. The protagonist addresses a former lover, reflecting on their shared past with both resentment and a hint of gratitude. This tango, imbued with emotional depth, explores themes of love, societal ascent, and misfortunes, bringing forth a narrative that resonates with the struggles of the marginalized in Argentine society.



Symbolism of Mano a mano

The phrase “mano a mano” itself, translating to “hand to hand,” symbolizes an intimate yet equal confrontation or reckoning, suggesting a candid, direct form of settlement between the singer and the woman. The song uses vivid imagery and terms like “bacana” (a term for a woman who has risen in social status) and “milonguero” (a tango dancer) to convey changes in social standing and lifestyle. Descriptive language and symbolic contrasts between past poverty and current affluence reflect on deeper themes of transformation and betrayal, highlighting a bittersweet understanding of life’s transient victories.



Mano a mano in historic Context

Written and performed in the mid-20th century Argentina, a time marked by social and economic changes, “Mano a mano” mirrors the complexities of personal relationships amidst shifting societal values. The tango, popular in Buenos Aires’ urban culture, often captured the melancholic spirit of the city’s underclass and their dreams. By 1965, tango had evolved to not just a dance but a narrative medium reflecting on themes of love, disappointment, and human resilience. This song, hence, serves as both a personal account and a broader social commentary, emphasized through the metaphor of tango itself – a dance combining passion, struggle, and elegance.



Celedonio Flores

Celedonio Flores was an Argentine poet and tango lyricist, famed for his involvement in the evolution of the tango lyric from simple verses to more sophisticated and introspective expressions.