Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

María la del portón

María la del portón is a Tango written by Andrés Natale and recorded by José Basso in 1958. The Tango María la del portón is written by Andrés Natale, José Basso has recorded María la del portón with the singer Floreal Ruiz.
“María la del portón,” or “María of the Gate,” evokes the image of a figure standing at a threshold, poised between worlds. This piece encapsulates the mystery and allure of María, who watches over the comings and goings, a sentinel to secrets and stories. Her presence is timeless, an invitation to journey through the melodies of memory and longing.

Tango

Style

José Basso

Orchestra

Floreal Ruiz

Singer

Abel Aznar

Author

Andrés Natale

Composer

1958/12/3

Date

Floreal Ruiz
Floreal Ruiz
José Basso
José Basso

Discover Other Orchestras

Domingo Federico – Memorias – 1947/4/18
Domingo Federico – Portero suba y diga – 1960/1/12
Domingo Federico – A Martín Fierro – 1945/2/22
Domingo Federico – Otario que andás penando – 1954/4/7
Domingo Federico – Muy suave – 1954/4/7
Aníbal Troilo – Vuelve la serenata – (unknown date)
Aníbal Troilo – La viajera perdida – 1949/10/20
Aníbal Troilo – El último farol – 1969/7/30
Aníbal Troilo – Desvelo (De flor en flor) – 1948/2/8
Aníbal Troilo – Compadrita mía – 1966/4/13
Orquesta Típica Victor – Coralito – 1926/12/1
Orquesta Típica Victor – Tradición – 1927/10/25
Orquesta Típica Victor – Raja raja de aqui – 1930/11/3
Orquesta Típica Victor – Tigre viejo (2) – 1926/12/6
Orquesta Típica Victor – Noches de invierno – 1937/4/30
Florindo Sassone – Errante vagabundo – 1963/8/22
Florindo Sassone – Preñado de gris – 1975/1/1
Florindo Sassone – Malevaje – 1974/1/1
Florindo Sassone – Trago amargo – 1951/8/13
Florindo Sassone – Por dónde andará – 1947/8/27

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.

1958/12/3 – La sentada – Juan D-Arienzo
1958/12/3 – Por miedo a perderte – Jose Basso
1958/12/2 – Feliz Navidad – Juan D-Arienzo
1958/12/10 – El Tigre Millan – Juan D-Arienzo
1958/12/10 – Tu noche es mi noche – Juan D-Arienzo

Lyrics Translation of the Tango María la del portón

This is the translation of the Tango “María la del portón” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “María la del portón” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango María la del portón

Tenías quince años, alegres, bullangueros
Un par de trenzas largas, doradas por el sol
Una carita de ángel, con unos ojos negros
Y en esos ojos negros, la llama del amor.

Romance de miradas, rondaban tu vereda
Ninguno de nosotros entró en tu corazón
Y sin embargo siempre, vos eras la promesa
Cuando de tardecita, salías al portón.

Tu nombre, que fue María
Lo cambiaste por Marión,
Debutando en la alegría
De la turbia algarabía
De la noche y la ilusión.
El tiempo llenó de nieve
Tus trenzas y tu corazón,
Y hoy decís: ¡Qué no daría
por volver a ser María!
María… La del portón…

Llegaste como llegan, tantas muchachas lindas
A decorar la escena de un pobre “vodevil”,
Allí tus quince años chocaron con la vida
Allí se fue apagando tu estrella juvenil.

Hoy sos Marión la humilde, la vieja violetera
Que encuentra unas monedas donde hay un corazón,
Que noche a noche mira, con lástima la escena
Allí, donde bailando, se quema la ilusión.

English lyrics of the Tango "María la del portón"

You were fifteen, lively, boisterous,
With a pair of long braids, gilded by the sun,
A face of an angel, with dark eyes so luminous,
And in those black eyes, the flame of love.

Amorous glances wandered your path,
None of us entered your heart,
Yet you were always the promise,
When in the evening, you stepped to the gate.

Your name, which was María,
You changed to Marión,
Debuting in the joy
Of the murky uproar,
Of the night and the illusion.
Time filled with snow
Your braids and your heart,
And today you say: What wouldn’t I give
To be María again!
María… of the gate…

You arrived as many pretty girls do,
To decorate the scene of a poor “vaudeville,”
There your fifteen years collided with life,
There your youthful star began to fade.

Now you’re Marión the humble, the old flower girl
Who finds some coins wherever there’s a heart,
Night after night, you watch the scene with pity,
There, where dancing, the dream burns away.

María la del portón by Abel Aznar

María la del portón is a Tango written by Abel Aznar and composed by Andrés Natale.



Story behind the Tango María la del portón

The tango ‘María la del portón’ narrates the story of a young girl named María, who transitions from a joyful, innocent adolescence marked by her engaging presence at the neighborhood gateway (“portón”) to a disillusioned adulthood. The lyrics poetically recount María’s journey from possessing a youthful glow symbolized by her long, sunlit braids and angel-like face, through her decline into a jaded adult, performing as ‘Marión’ in a modest cabaret setting, ultimately reminiscing about her lost innocence.



Symbolism of María la del portón

María symbolizes the lost innocence and the harsh confrontations with reality many experience as they transition from youth to adulthood. The “portón,” or large gate, represents the threshold between the protected world of childhood and the vast, uncontrolled realm of adult life. María’s transformation into Marión signifies the loss of youthful purity and the adaptation necessitated by her circumstances. Key phrases like “Romance de miradas, rondaban tu vereda,” evoke the fleeting, ephemeral nature of youthful allure and potential, contrasted starkly with her later life where “la vieja violetera” (the old flower vendor) hints at her faded existence, finding small solaces where she can.



María la del portón in historic Context

Recorded in Argentina in 1958, ‘María la del portón’ reflects a society transitioning through significant cultural and socio-economic changes. Post-World War II Argentina was marked by political strife and rapidly changing social norms, which intertwined with the personal stories of individuals, particularly women, navigating this turbulent epoch. The narrative captures the essence of a period where traditional values clashed with modern influences, altering individual stories profoundly. María’s story, from hopeful youth to nostalgic adult, reflects larger societal shifts and the personal cost associated with them.



Abel Aznar

Abel Aznar was a renowned Argentine lyricist and composer, particularly celebrated for his contributions to the genre of tango, capturing the soul and evolving narrative of Argentine society through his poignant lyrics.