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Melodía de arrabal

Melodía de arrabal is a Tango written by Carlos Gardel and recorded by Miguel Caló in 1965. The Tango Melodía de arrabal is written by Carlos Gardel, Miguel Caló has recorded Melodía de arrabal with the singer Raúl Del Mar.
“Melodía de arrabal,” which translates to “Melody of the Slums” in English, captures the soulful essence of a forgotten corner of the city. It is a nostalgic tribute to the passionate heartbeats and whispered stories of narrow alleyways, where life’s struggles and dreams entwine with every note. This piece resonates with the raw, unpolished beauty of everyday existence.

Tango

Style

Miguel Caló

Orchestra

Raúl Del Mar

Singer

Alfredo Le Pera

Author

Carlos Gardel

Composer

1965/1/1

Date

Raúl Del Mar
Raúl Del Mar
Miguel Caló
Miguel Caló

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Melodía de arrabal recorded by other Orchestras

Melodía de arrabal recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Melodía de arrabal

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

Letra del Tango Melodía de arrabal

Barrio plateado por la luna,

rumores de milonga

es toda su fortuna.

Hay un fueye que rezonga

en la cortada mistonga,

mientras que una pebeta,

linda como una flor,

espera coqueta

bajo la quieta

luz de un farol.



Barrio… barrio..

que tenés el alma inquieta

de un gorrión sentimental.

Penas…ruego…

¡esto todo el barrio malevo

melodía de arrabal!

Barrio… barrio…

perdoná si al evocarte

se me pianta un lagrimón,

que al rodar en tu empedrao

es un beso prolongao

que te da mi corazón.



Cuna de tauras y cantores,

de broncas y entreveros,

de todos mis amores.

En tus muros con mi acero

yo grabé nombres que quiero.

Rosa, ‘la milonguita’,

era rubia Margot,

en la primer cita,

la paica Rita

me dio su amor.

English lyrics of the Tango "Melodía de arrabal"

Silvered neighborhood by the moon,

rumors of milonga

is all its fortune.

There’s a squeezebox grumbling

in the quaint back street,

while a young girl,

pretty as a flower,

waits flirtatiously

beneath the still

light of a streetlamp.

Neighborhood… neighborhood…

that have the restless soul

of a sentimental sparrow.

Sorrows… pleas…

this is all the tough neighborhood

melody of the suburb!

Neighborhood… neighborhood…

forgive me if invoking you

makes a tear escape,

that rolling on your cobblestones

is a prolonged kiss

given by my heart.

Cradle of toughs and singers,

of brawls and mix-ups,

of all my loves.

On your walls with my steel

I engraved names that I cherish.

Rosa, ‘the milonguita’,

was blonde Margot,

on the first date,

the bold Rita

gave me her love.

Melodía de arrabal by Alfredo Le Pera

Melodía de arrabal is a Tango written by Alfredo Le Pera and composed by Carlos Gardel.



Story behind the Tango Melodía de arrabal

Melodía de arrabal” captures the essence of the suburban and working-class neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, reflecting their nightly ambiance under the moonlight and the sounds of milonga. The lyrics describe the intimate and humble fortunes of these neighborhoods, where the local culture and sentiments are expressed through simple yet profound elements like music and dance, evident in the presence of a “fueye” (bandoneon) and the street environment (“cortada mistonga”). A prominent figure in this scene is a young woman (“pebeta”), evoking a sense of youthful hope and beauty amidst the urban setting, waiting under the calmness of a streetlamp.



Symbolism of Melodía de arrabal

The recurring mention of the barrio with a “soul of a sentimental sparrow” highlights a community vibrant with emotions and stories, yet carrying a sense of melancholy with “tears” and “pleas” woven into its daily fabric. The imagery of the neighborhood as a living entity capable of feeling sorrow and nostalgia symbolizes the deep connection between the residents and their environment, each corner and street recalling personal memories and collective identities. Phrases like “que al rodar en tu empedrao es un beso prolongao que te da mi corazón” depict the profound love and attachment the narrator holds for the barrio, likening tears shed on its cobblestones to a kiss given to the heart of the neighborhood.



Melodía de arrabal in historic Context

Composed and performed in the mid-20th century, “Melodía de arrabal” reflects the cultural backdrop of Argentina during a time when Tango was a dominant aspect of national identity and artistic expression. This period was marked by societal transformations and a nostalgic remembrance of simpler times amidst rapid urbanization and social changes. The lyrics not only depict the physicality of the arrabal (suburb) but also embody the emotional tapestry of its inhabitants, their struggles, passions, and joys, making it a resonant piece that speaks to the feeling of longing and belonging.



Alfredo Le Pera

Alfredo Le Pera was an influential lyricist and journalist, best known for his collaborations with Carlos Gardel, which significantly impacted the world of Tango.