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Muchacho

Muchacho is a Tango written by Edgardo Donato and recorded by Ángel d’Agostino in 1940. The Tango Muchacho is written by Edgardo Donato, Ángel d’Agostino has recorded Muchacho with the singer Ángel Vargas.
“Muchacho,” meaning “Young Man” in English, evokes the restless energy of youth. This vibrant piece dances with the pulse of a city night, where dreams ignite and footsteps chase the dawn. It’s a melody of hope and longing, capturing the essence of a soul eager to carve its own path through the rhythm of life.

Tango

Style

Ángel d'Agostino

Orchestra

Ángel Vargas

Singer

Celedonio Flores

Author

Edgardo Donato

Composer

1940/11/13

Date

Ángel Vargas
Ángel Vargas
Ángel d'Agostino
Ángel d’Agostino

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Muchacho recorded by other Orchestras

Muchacho recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Muchacho

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

Letra del Tango Muchacho

Muchacho que porque la suerte quiso
vivís en un primer piso
de un palacete central,
que pa’ vicios y placeres,
para farras y mujeres
disponés de un capital.
Muchacho
que no sabés el encanto
de haber derramado llanto
sobre un pecho de mujer;
y no sabés qué es secarse
en una timba y armarse
para volverse a meter;

que decís que un tango rante
no te hace perder la calma
y que no te llora el alma
cuando gime un bandoneón;
que si tenés sentimiento
lo tenés adormecido
pues todo lo has conseguido
pagando como un chabón.

Decime
si en tu vida pelandruna,
bajo la luz de la Luna
o si no bajo un farol,
no te has sentido poeta
y le has dicho a una pebeta
que ella es más linda que el Sol.

Decime
si conocés la armonía,
la dulce policromía
de las tardes de arrabal,
cuando van las fabriqueras
tentadoras y diqueras
bajo el sonoro percal…

English lyrics of the Tango "Muchacho"

Young man, just because luck had it so,
you live on the upper floor
of a grand central palace,
affording vices and pleasures,
for partying and women
you have the capital.
Young man,
you don’t know the charm
of having shed tears
on a woman’s chest;
nor what it’s like to dry off
in a gambler’s den and steel yourself
to go back in;

you say that a sharp tango
doesn’t make you lose your calm
and your soul doesn’t weep
when a bandoneón cries out;
if you have any feelings,
they’re dormant,
since everything you’ve got
was paid for, just like a fool.

Tell me,
in your reckless life,
beneath the moonlight
or even under a street lamp,
haven’t you felt poetic
and told a young girl
that she’s more beautiful than the sun?

Tell me,
do you know the harmony,
the sweet polychrome
of suburban evenings,
when the factory girls,
alluring and stylish,
walk beneath the rustling poplin…

Muchacho by Celedonio Flores

Muchacho is a Tango written by Celedonio Flores and composed by Edgardo Donato.



Story behind the Tango Muchacho

“Muchacho” reflects on the life of a young man of wealth, contrasting his luxurious, carefree lifestyle with the more heartfelt, often struggling existence of those in the less affluent sectors of society. The lyrics ponder whether true emotions and beauty—those derived from struggles, simple pleasures, and the rawness of life—are ever genuinely experienced by someone who has everything handed to them. Celedonio Flores uses the rich imagery of Argentine culture, particularly focusing on emotions stirred by love, tango music, and the vibrant life of the working class.



Symbolism of Muchacho

The lyricist employs sharp contrasts between the opulent life of the ‘muchacho’ and the passionate depth found in the struggles of daily life among the common folk. Symbolism is evident in phrases like “no te llora el alma cuando gime un bandoneón,” suggesting that the young man’s soul does not weep with the melodious cries of the bandoneon, a key instrument in tango music, reflecting a disconnect from his cultural roots and emotions. Light and environment evoke further symbolism; for instance, the imagery of “la luz de la Luna” and “un farol” (the moonlight and a streetlamp) highlights moments of introspection and romantic encounters that are profound yet ordinary.



Muchacho in historic Context

Created in 1940 in Argentina, a time when Tango music was intricately intertwined with the national identity, “Muchacho” not only captures the essence of the urban landscape but also serves as a social commentary. This period marked a complex time in Argentine history, characterized by political shifts and the emergence of the working class’s voice through cultural expressions like tango. The lyrics subtly critique societal disparities, using the tango’s melancholic, soul-stirring capacities to contrast different social realities.



Celedonio Flores

Celedonio Flores was an influential Argentine poet and tango lyricist, renowned for weaving intricate narratives that vividly capture the socio-cultural tapestry of early 20th-century Buenos Aires.