Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Mano cruel

Mano cruel is a Tango written by Carmelo Mutarelli and recorded by José Basso in 1962. The Tango Mano cruel is written by Carmelo Mutarelli, José Basso has recorded Mano cruel with the singer Roberto Florio.
“Mano cruel,” translated into English as “Cruel Hand,” evokes the ruthless grip of fate’s dance in a world of passion and despair. The music unravels tales of longing and loss, with each note whispering the relentless touch of time on fragile hearts. It is a haunting melody that ensnares the soul, leaving both pain and beauty intertwined.

Tango

Style

José Basso

Orchestra

Roberto Florio

Singer

Armando Tagini

Author

Carmelo Mutarelli

Composer

1962/1/1

Date

Roberto Florio
Roberto Florio
José Basso
José Basso

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Ricardo Tanturi – Tu vieja ventana – 1945/10/26
Ricardo Tanturi – Esta noche al pasar – 1945/1/22
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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.

Mano cruel recorded by other Orchestras

Mano cruel recorded by other Orchestras

1962/1/1 – El bar de Rosendo – Angel d-Agostino
1962/1/1 – Gerardo Matos Rodriguez – Angel d-Agostino
1962/1/1 – Yo soy el tango senores – Angel d-Agostino
1962/1/1 – A la luz del candil – Jose Basso
1962/1/1 – Atardece – Jose Basso
Mano cruel – 1962/1/1 – Jose Basso – Roberto Florio
Mano cruel – 1949/3/21 – Florindo Sassone – Roberto Chanel

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Mano cruel

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

Letra del Tango Mano cruel

Fuiste la piba mimada
de la calle Pepirí,
la calle nunca olvidada
donde yo te conocí;
y porque eras linda y buena,
un muchacho medio loco
te hizo reina del piropo
en un verso muy fifí.

Tu gracia supo en las milongas cautivar,
por tus encantos suspiró más de un varón,
y sin embargo no encontraste el ideal
capaz de hacer estremece tu corazón.
Pero en las sombras acechaba el vil ladrón
que ajó tu encanto juvenil con mano cruel,
cedió tu oído a sus palabras de pasión
y abandonaste para siempre el barrio aquel.

Hoy te he visto a la salida
de un lujoso cabaret,
y en tu carita afligida
honda pena adiviné.
Yo sé que hasta el alma dieras
por volver a ser lo que eras.
No podrás, la primavera
de tu vida ya se fue.

Hoy ya no sos la linda piba que mimó
la muchachada de la calle Pepirí,
aquella calle donde yo te conocí
y donde un mozo soñador tanto te amó.
Mintió aquel hombre que riqueza te ofreció,
con mano cruel ajó tu gracia y tu virtud;
eras la rosa de fragante juventud
que hurtó al rosal el caballero que pasó.

English lyrics of the Tango "Mano cruel"

You were the darling girl
from Pepirí street,
the street I’ll never forget
where I met you;
and because you were lovely and kind,
a somewhat crazy young man
made you the queen of compliments
with a very froufrou verse.

Your charm captivated all at the milongas,
many a man sighed over your beauty,
and yet you never found the ideal
capable of truly stirring your heart.
But lurking in the shadows was the vile thief
who withered your youthful charm with a cruel hand,
your ear surrendered to his words of passion,
and you left that neighborhood forever.

Today I saw you leaving
a luxurious cabaret,
and in your troubled little face
I discerned deep sorrow.
I know you’d give your soul
to be what you once were.
You can’t, the springtime
of your life has passed.

You are no longer the lovely girl adored
by the young men of Pepirí street,
that street where I met you
and where a dreamer loved you deeply.
That man lied who offered you wealth,
with a cruel hand he marred your grace and virtue;
you were the rose of fragrant youth
plucked from the rosebush by the gentleman passing by.

Mano cruel by Armando Tagini

Mano cruel is a Tango written by Armando Tagini and composed by Carmelo Mutarelli.



Story behind the Tango Mano cruel

The lyrics of “Mano cruel” tell the tale of a young woman once admired and beloved in her neighborhood on Pepirí street. She was the joy and fantasy of many but fell victim to a deceitful man who ruined her innocence and grace. The song revisits her past glories and contrasts them with her present, marked by regret and a desire to return to her innocent days, which are irrevocably lost.



Symbolism of Mano cruel

The “mano cruel” or “cruel hand” symbolizes the destructive influence of the deceitful man who promised her wealth and joy but led her to a path of ruin. The recurring contrast between the blooming “primavera” (spring) of her youth and the harsh present underscores the irreversible nature of her choices influenced by deceit. Streets and neighborhoods are utilized to evoke a sense of a lost homely warmth, depicting the stark contrast between her past and present environments.



Mano cruel in historic Context

“Mano cruel” was released in 1962, a period of considerable cultural transformation in Argentina. During this time, tango often reflected societal concerns and personal tragedies, serving as a narrative vessel that offered insights into the emotional and social upheavals experienced by individuals. The depiction of a woman misled by promises mirrors wider societal warnings about the seductive nature of apparent quick riches or happiness, typical in tales woven into the fabric of Tango lyrics to reflect common moral narratives.



Armando Tagini

Armando Tagini was a prolific lyricist in the Tango genre, often creating works that delved deeply into personal and societal struggles through poignant and evocative language.