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Mariposita

Mariposita is a Tango written by Anselmo Aieta and recorded by Osvaldo Fresedo in 1941. Osvaldo Fresedo has recorded Mariposita as an instrumental Tango.
“Mariposita,” meaning “Little Butterfly” in English, flutters gently through the air of our emotions. Its melody, a delicate dance, captures the ephemeral beauty of moments that glisten briefly before fading away. Like a butterfly’s flight, this piece is a reminder of life’s transient wonders and the joy found in fleeting grace.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Fresedo

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Francisco García Jiménez

Author

Anselmo Aieta

Composer

1941/6/19

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo

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Mariposita recorded by other Orchestras

Mariposita recorded by other Orchestras

Letra del Tango Mariposita

Un bandoneón
con su resuello tristón.
La noche en el cristal
de la copa y del bar
y del tiempo que pasó…
Mi corazón
con su borracha emoción.
Y en otra voz, la voz
de la historia vulgar,
dice mi vulgar dolor…

Mariposita,
muchachita de mi barrio,
te busco por el centro,
te busco y no te encuentro,
siguiendo este calvario
con la cruz del mismo error.
Te busco porque acaso nos
iríamos del brazo…
Vos te equivocaste con tu arrullo
de sedas palpitantes,
y yo con mi barullo
de sueños delirantes,
en un mundo engañador.
¡Volvamos a lo de antes!
¡Dame el brazo y vámonos!

Ni vos ni yo
sabemos cuál se perdió.
Ni dónde el bien, ni el mal,
tuvo un día final
y otro día comenzó…
Yo bebo más
porque esta noche vendrás.
Mi corazón te ve;
pero habrá que beber mucho…
¡pero mucho más!…

English lyrics of the Tango "Mariposita"

A bandoneon
with its melancholic wheeze.
The night in the glass
of the cup and the bar
and the time that passed by…
My heart
with its drunken emotion.
And in another voice, the voice
of the common tale,
speaks my common pain…

Little butterfly,
little girl from my neighborhood,
I search for you downtown,
I search but can’t find you,
following this ordeal
with the cross of the same mistake.
I search because perhaps we
would go arm in arm…
You were mistaken with your cooing
of fluttering silks,
and I with my commotion
of delirious dreams,
in a deceiving world.
Let’s go back to before!
Give me your arm and let’s go!

Neither you nor I
know which one was lost.
Neither where the good, nor the evil,
had an ending one day
and another day began…
I drink more
because tonight you’ll come.
My heart sees you;
but I’ll have to drink much…
but much more!…

Mariposita by Francisco García Jiménez

Mariposita is a Tango written by Francisco García Jiménez and composed by Anselmo Aieta.



Story behind the Tango Mariposita

The song Mariposita, which translates to “little butterfly,” tells a poignant tale of nostalgic longing and emotional turmoil. It captures a man reminiscing about a past love, a woman from his neighborhood, whom he is unsuccessfully trying to find in the bustling areas of the city. The narrative is enveloped in a melancholic soundscape provided by a bandoneón, enhancing the sense of a somber, reflective vibe. The singer’s heart, laden with emotions intensified by alcohol, brings forth memories and desires intertwined with a sense of loss and regret.



Symbolism of Mariposita

The use of “Mariposita” or little butterfly is symbolic; it alludes to the delicate, fleeting nature of young love and beauty, akin to a butterfly that’s beautiful yet transient . The repetition of the imagery “te busco y no te encuentro,” meaning “I look for you and do not find you,” embodies the theme of searching and missing an important emotional piece of one’s past. Alcohol in the lyrics symbolizes the attempt to drown out the pain of memories or to bridge the gap between past and present.



Mariposita in historic Context

Released in 1941, at the cusp of World War II’s impact on South America, Mariposita might reflect the broader sense of uncertainty and longing for the past felt by many. Buenos Aires, the likely backdrop, was a city of juxtaposed sentiments—hope and despair, old traditions and a new world. This setting is crucial as it amplifies the theme of searching amidst change, akin to seeking solace in familiar yet unattainable corners of a rapidly evolving city.



Francisco García Jiménez

Francisco García Jiménez was a renowned Argentine lyricist known primarily for his contributions to the Tango genre, capturing the essence of urban and emotional landscapes of his era.