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Muchacho de cafetín

Muchacho de cafetín is a Tango written by Francisco Pracánico and recorded by Edgardo Donato in 1935. The Tango Muchacho de cafetín is written by Francisco Pracánico, Edgardo Donato has recorded Muchacho de cafetín with the singer Hugo Del Carril.
“Muchacho de Cafetín,” or “Café Boy,” is a tango that captures the essence of youthful wanderings and the bittersweet charm of bygone days spent in dimly lit cafés. It evokes the image of a young dreamer, lingering at the fringes of ordinary life, imbibing tales and melodies amidst the clatter of cups and whispered secrets. This piece speaks to the nostalgia of a time when life unfolded with a slow, languid elegance in the world of cafés and chance encounters.

Tango

Style

Edgardo Donato

Orchestra

Hugo Del Carril

Singer

Homero Manzi

Author

Francisco Pracánico

Composer

1935/4/4

Date

Hugo Del Carril
Hugo Del Carril
Edgardo Donato
Edgardo Donato

Discover Other Orchestras

Francini-Pontier – Certificao – 1952/8/21
Francini-Pontier – Inspiración – 1973/1/1
Francini-Pontier – El retoque – 1952/12/12
Francini-Pontier – Canción para breve final – 1948/2/4
Francini-Pontier – La culpa es mía – 1947/6/11
José Garcia – Lagarterana – 1942/3/17
José Garcia – Nocturno de tango – 1943/2/20
José Garcia – Anselmo Acuña el resero – 1943/8/13
José Garcia – Aguantalo si podés (De corte antiguo) – 1944/4/7
José Garcia – Adiós adiós corazón – 1942/11/4
Osvaldo Fresedo – Ayer (2) – 1942/9/6
Osvaldo Fresedo – Mi adorable desconocida – 1952/12/18
Osvaldo Fresedo – Tema en fa – 1957/9/10
Osvaldo Fresedo – Paisaje (2) – 1951/8/9
Osvaldo Fresedo – Canita – 1927/8/3
Francisco Rotundo – Alma de loca – 1952/5/19
Francisco Rotundo – Serenata de candombes – 1948/12/14
Francisco Rotundo – Viejo smoking – 1949/1/1
Francisco Rotundo – Eras como la flor – 1955/5/2
Francisco Rotundo – Al pie de la Santa Cruz – 1949/1/1

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.

1935/4/4 – El vals de los recuerdos – Edgardo Donato
1935/4/5 – Puesta de sol (2) – Miguel Calo
1935/4/5 – Serpentina de esperanza – Miguel Calo
1935/4/5 – Canto Siboney – Osvaldo Fresedo
1935/4/5 – El once (A divertirse) – Osvaldo Fresedo

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Muchacho de cafetín

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

Letra del Tango Muchacho de cafetín

Muchacho de cafetín
adornao con pilchas pobres,
feliz con la fortuna
de no tener un cobre.

La pena de mi querer
tan solo zumba un agravio
cuando el silbar de los labios
pita el pucho del milongón.

Sol de mi suburbio
que con dolor se ocultó
tras el sueño turbio
que su querer me mintió.
Canto del desengaño
volcó en mis años
el mal de su traición.
Mal de un viento brujo
qu’en mi arrabal sopló.

La vida me hizo rodar
en busca de la esperanza
y en vez de tu ternura
topé con tu venganza.

Y hoy tan solo mi ilusión
es el humo de un resabio,
cuando el silbar de los labios
pita el pucho del corazón.

English lyrics of the Tango "Muchacho de cafetín"

Café boy
decked in modest garb,
joyful with the fortune
of not having a dime.

The grief of my love
only buzzes a grievance
when the whistle of the lips
signals the end of the dance.

Sun of my suburb
that with pain hid
behind the murky dream
that her love lied to me.
Song of disillusionment
poured into my years
the evil of her betrayal.
Evil of a wicked wind
that blew in my neighborhood.

Life made me roll
in search of hope
and instead of your tenderness
I encountered your revenge.

And now my only illusion
is the smoke of a leftover taste,
when the whistle of the lips
signals the end of the heart.

Muchacho de cafetín by Homero Manzi

Muchacho de cafetín is a Tango written by Homero Manzi and composed by Francisco Pracánico.



Story behind the Tango Muchacho de cafetín

“Muchacho de cafetín,” meaning “Café Kid” in English, portrays a young man adorned in humble clothes, content with his fortune of having nothing (no tener un cobre). He reveals a nostalgic reflection on lost love and missed opportunities, emphasized by a narrative of betrayal and revenge. The lyrics oscillate between his present misery and the painful memories of a love that deceived him. The café serves as a symbolic backdrop, a place where reflections and realizations come to light amidst loneliness.



Symbolism of Muchacho de cafetín

The “sol de mi suburbio” (sun of my suburb) symbolizes the joy and brightness that once filled the protagonist’s life, which later “se ocultó” (was hidden) behind the confusion and regrets of a troubled dream (sueño turbio). Homero Manzi uses powerful metaphors like “mal de un viento brujo” (curse of a bewitching wind) to describe how the treacherous acts have disrupted and tainted his peaceful existence. These vivid images enhance the emotional depth and illustrate the profound heartache and disillusionment experienced by the protagonist.



Homero Manzi and Muchacho de cafetín in Historic Context

Recorded in 1935, a period of social and economic upheaval in Argentina, “Muchacho de cafetín” reflects themes of socio-economic disparity and personal strife. During this era, tango often captured the melancholic sentiments of a society grappling with its identity amidst rapid change and urbanization. The café, a typical urban gathering space, symbolizes a refuge for those displaced by societal shifts, and serves as a microcosm of the larger emotional landscape of Buenos Aires during the early 20th century.



Homero Manzi

Homero Manzi was a prominent Argentine lyricist and filmmaker. Best known for his profound and emotionally rich tangos, Manzi has been an influential figure in the development of Argentinian music and culture.