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Murió el malevo

Murió el malevo is a Tango written by Héctor Varela and recorded by Héctor Varela in 1953. The Tango Murió el malevo is written by Héctor Varela, Héctor Varela has recorded Murió el malevo with the singer Rodolfo Lesica.
“Murió el malevo,” translated as “The Ruffian Died,” evokes the dramatic end of a notorious figure’s tale. The name suggests a tango full of passion, betrayal, and redemption, reflecting the tumultuous life of a once-feared character. It captures the essence of a bygone era where bravado and vulnerability intertwined on dimly lit streets.

Tango

Style

Héctor Varela

Orchestra

Rodolfo Lesica

Singer

Carlos Waiss

Author

Héctor Varela

Composer

1953/6/16

Date

Rodolfo Lesica
Rodolfo Lesica
Héctor Varela
Héctor Varela

Discover Other Orchestras

Ángel d’Agostino – Era en otro Buenos Aires – 1947/6/10
Ángel d’Agostino – Yo soy el tango señores – 1962/1/1
Ángel d’Agostino – La violetera – 1959/4/24
Ángel d’Agostino – El porteñito – 1943/3/23
Ángel d’Agostino – Manoblanca (Mano blanca) – 1944/3/9
Francisco Canaro – Qué tiempos felices – 1926/1/1
Francisco Canaro – Una noche en París – 1924/1/1
Francisco Canaro – Clotildita – 1924/1/1
Francisco Canaro – La última cita – 1923/1/1
Francisco Canaro – La danza de las libélulas (Gigolette) – 1923/1/1
Francisco Rotundo – Aquel tapado de armiño – 1950/7/6
Francisco Rotundo – Mis delirios – 1949/9/30
Francisco Rotundo – Viejo smoking – 1949/1/1
Francisco Rotundo – Qué tarde que has venido – 1956/9/10
Francisco Rotundo – Mal de amores – 1956/5/22
Roberto Firpo – Negrucha – 1927/10/20
Roberto Firpo – Hilacha – 1936/3/14
Roberto Firpo – Cabaret de cristal – 1932/9/15
Roberto Firpo – Quejas de bandoneón – 1928/12/21
Roberto Firpo – Se acabaron los otarios – 1927/3/31

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.

1953/6/16 – Igual que dos palomas – Hector Varela
1953/6/16 – La taba – Hector Varela
1953/6/16 – Mi dolor – Hector Varela
1953/6/16 – Moneda de cobre – Hector Varela
1953/6/16 – Volve mi negra – Hector Varela

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Murió el malevo

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

Letra del Tango Murió el malevo

El barrio rezonga… ha muerto el malevo

que triste y callado quedó el arrabal,

la noche parece vestirse de duelo

y tiembla la sangre que enluta un puñal.

Pensar que un mocoso, de puro atrevido

buscó madrugarlo p’hacerse cartel

y en cuanto el malevo tanteaba el cuchillo

tenía hasta el mango clavado el de él.



Lo vieron plantado, guapear sin alardes,

jugarse una carta de frente a un rival,

copando el cariño de dos ojos negros

manojos de celos del viejo arrabal.

La Tierra del Fuego no pudo domarle,

diez años de cárcel su hombrada pagó,

su pobre viejita, de tanto llorarlo,

mordiendo su angustia, de pena murió.



La cortada lloró sangre y apretándose la herida

fue boqueando en su agonía por el viejo callejón.

Ni una mano, ni un amigo le llegó a cerrar los ojos,

ni unos tibios labios rojos le rezaron un ¡adiós!

Pobre guapo lo achuraron como a res de matadero

y hoy a cada conventillo llega un cacho de emoción.

En la ronda de un boliche va entonándose un garguero

mientras cuenta alguna hazaña del malevo que murió.

English lyrics of the Tango "Murió el malevo"

The neighborhood grumbles… the thug has died

how sad and silent the suburb has become,

the night seems to be dressed in mourning

and the blood that a dagger mourns trembles.

To think that a cocky kid, just daring

sought to surprise him to make a name for himself

and as the thug felt for his knife

the kid had his plunged to the hilt.

They saw him stand, swagger without ostentation,

to play a card face-to-face with a rival,

captivating the affection of two black eyes

bundles of jealousy from the old suburb.

Tierra del Fuego could not tame him,

ten years in prison he paid for his manhood,

his poor little mother, from so much crying,

biting her anguish, died of sorrow.

The alley cried blood and clutching its wound

gasped in agony through the old alley.
Not a hand, not a friend came to close his eyes,
nor warm red lips prayed him goodbye!

Poor brave man, they skewered him like cattle at the slaughterhouse
and now to each tenement comes a piece of emotion.
In the round of a dive, a throat starts singing
while recounting some exploit of the thug who died.

Murió el malevo by Carlos Waiss

Murió el malevo is a tango written by Carlos Waiss and composed by Héctor Varela.



Story behind the Tango Murió el malevo

The lyrics of “Murió el malevo” recount the dramatic end of a tough, charismatic figure from the neighborhood, a malevo, who has been unexpectedly killed by a reckless young man looking to make a name for himself. This event leaves the community in mourning, depicted through a somber environment where even the night seems to dress in mourning. The impactful and sudden demise of this malevo, once an assertive yet respected figure, brings a profound sense of loss not just personally but to the entire locality.



Symbolism of Murió el malevo

The tango is laden with symbolism that reflects the dark and intense emotions associated with life in the arrabales (suburbs or slums). For instance, the blood ‘that mourns a dagger’ symbolizes the violent life and death often endured by the malevos, highlighting the inevitability of their fall. The references to cuchillo (knife) and the act of tragically mordiendo su angustia (biting his anguish) emphasize the raw and brutal reality of street life. The ‘old alley’ mentioned symbolizes tradition and the communal life of the neighborhood, bearing witness to both the achievements and downfalls of its inhabitants.



Murió el malevo in historic Context

The tango “Murió el malevo” was written and recorded in the post-war era of 1953, a time when Argentina was experiencing significant cultural and societal shifts. This song, resonating with themes of local pride, valor, and tragic loss, mirrors the social conditions of a changing Argentina, where the tales and legends of neighborhood heroes stood firm against the tides of modernity and urbanization. The yearning for maintaining a connection with the cultural norms of honor and bravery prevalent in malevos speaks to a society wrestling with its new identity amidst rapid change.



Carlos Waiss

Carlos Waiss was a notable lyricist in the realm of Argentine tango, renowned for his contributions to the genre with stories that depict the deep emotions and complex lives within the Argentina culture.