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Morocho y cantor

Morocho y cantor is a Tango written by Donato Racciatti and recorded by Juan D’Arienzo in 1961. The Tango Morocho y cantor is written by Donato Racciatti, Juan D’Arienzo has recorded Morocho y cantor with the singer Horacio Palma.
“Morocho y cantor,” meaning “Dark-haired and Singer” in English, is an evocative title that conjures the soulful essence of tango. It paints a picture of a passionate vocalist whose rich, dusky tones echo through the night. The name captures both the deep allure of the performer and the timeless enchantment of his song.

Tango

Style

Juan D'Arienzo

Orchestra

Horacio Palma

Singer

Federico Silva

Author

Donato Racciatti

Composer

1961/11/6

Date

Horacio Palma
Horacio Palma
Juan D'Arienzo
Juan D’Arienzo

Discover Other Orchestras

Juan D’Arienzo – Un placer – 1936/3/4
Juan D’Arienzo – Tierrita – 1941/6/9
Juan D’Arienzo – Canaro en París – 1940/11/21
Juan D’Arienzo – Un lamento – 1969/10/20
Juan D’Arienzo – Carancho – 1942/10/27
Edgardo Donato – Fascinacion (2) – 1931/1/1
Edgardo Donato – Mi tristeza – 1935/5/6
Edgardo Donato – Solo un recuerdo – 1936/7/1
Edgardo Donato – Frente a frente – 1930/1/1
Edgardo Donato – El adiós – 1938/4/2
Carlos di Sarli – Que no sepan las estrellas – 1945/1/3
Carlos di Sarli – Sueño de juventud – 1954/8/31
Carlos di Sarli – Re fa si – 1953/8/14
Carlos di Sarli – Se muere de amor – 1953/3/5
Carlos di Sarli – Para qué te quiero tanto – 1946/5/3
Ricardo Tanturi – Pocas palabras – 1941/6/16
Ricardo Tanturi – Bien criolla y bien porteña – 1945/7/13
Ricardo Tanturi – El resero – 1965/1/1
Ricardo Tanturi – Cómo se pianta la vida – 1942/9/15
Ricardo Tanturi – La abandoné y no sabía – 1944/4/27

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.

1961/11/6 – Mientras suena Buenos Aires – Juan D-Arienzo
1961/11/6 – Mi novia de ayer – Juan D-Arienzo
1961/11/6 – Recuerdame amor mio – Juan D-Arienzo
1961/11/1 – Dos amores – Osvaldo Pugliese
1961/11/1 – Un tropezon – Osvaldo Pugliese

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Morocho y cantor

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

Letra del Tango Morocho y cantor

Morocho y compadre, francés, por más señas,
cantando, cantando, llegó al arrabal.
Casitas humildes de techos de lata
vieron sus primeros vuelos de zorzal.
Allá en el Abasto, talló entre los buenos
y un juego de calles se dio en diagonal,
cuando dijo a todos, sonriente y cabrero,
que se iba a Europa, que se iba a triunfar.

Morocho,
a un ocho de tango tu voz enredó,
fraseando las velas de un fuelle mistongo,
que en más de un bailongo de tauras copó.
Morocho,
qué lejos España, París, Nueva York.
Qué lejos las luces de tu Buenos Aires,
qué cerca del cielo parece tu voz.

Las novias del mundo lloraron tu ausencia
y todas las violas tuvieron crespón
y todos los tangos se hicieron más tristes
cuando vos te fuiste, morocho y cantor.
Allá en Buenos Aires quedó tu viejita,
guardando en los surcos del disco tu voz,
mirando las fotos, las fotos marchitas,
milagro de madre, cerquita de Dios.

English lyrics of the Tango "Morocho y cantor"

Dark and charming, French by roots,
singing, ever singing, reached the outskirts he sought.
Modest little houses of tin rooftops
witnessed his first flights, like a thrush in thought.
There at Abasto, he carved out a name among the best,
and a crisscross of streets played out his game,
when he told everyone, smiling and cocky,
he was off to Europe, to achieve fame.

Dark-skinned,
your voice tangled up in an eight-count tango,
phrasing the draught of a scrappy accordion,
capturing many a beauty in the dance hall’s tangle.
Dark-skinned,
how far are Spain, Paris, New York.
How distant the lights of your Buenos Aires,
how close to heaven your voice seems to embark.

The girlfriends of the world wept your absence
and all the guitars donned a mourning band
and all the tangos turned sadder
when you left, dark-skinned and singing grand.
Back in Buenos Aires your little mother stayed,
keeping your voice in the grooves of the record played,
gazing at photos, those faded photos,
mother’s miracle, close to God as though prayed.

Morocho y cantor by Federico Silva

Morocho y cantor is a Tango written by Federico Silva and composed by Donato Racciatti.



Story behind the Tango Morocho y cantor

The Tango recounts the life of a dark-skinned, charismatic singer (indicated by “Morocho y cantor”), who, hailing from a humble background in the Abasto neighborhood, rises to international fame. The lyrics vividly depict his beginnings in modest houses with tin roofs and his journey through the intricate, diagonal streets of his hometown to the glamorous stages of Europe and America.



Symbolism of Morocho y cantor

The lyrics are rich with symbolism that highlights the contrast between the singer’s humble origins and his later success. Phrases like “fraseando las velas de un fuelle mistongo,” symbolize how his voice weaves through the melodies of a bandoneon, capturing the essence of Tango. The use of the term “Morocho,” which means ‘dark-haired’ or ‘swarthy,’ coupled with “cantor,” ‘singer,’ emphasizes his identity and roots. The emotional weight of his departure is symbolized by how the world—through his fans and the tangos themselves—mourns his absence, becoming “más tristes” or sadder.



Morocho y cantor in historic Context

Recorded in 1961, during a vivid era of Tango evolution, “Morocho y cantor” reflects the life stories of many Tango artists of the time, who left Argentina to find fame overseas, often feeling a poignant mix of success and homesickness. The mention of global cities like Spain, Paris, and New York highlights the worldwide appeal of Tango during this period, while simultaneously indicating the distances that separated these artists from their roots in Buenos Aires.



Federico Silva

Federico Silva was a significant Tango lyricist known for his ability to weave poignant and evocative narratives within his compositions.