Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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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.
No salgas de tu barrio is a Tango written by Arturo Rodríguez Bustamante and composed by Enrique Delfino.
“No salgas de tu barrio” translates to “Do not leave your neighborhood” in English. This line encapsulates the central advice of the lyrics which is a plea towards a young girl from a modest background, cautioning her against abandoning her familiar world for uncertain promises and glamorous allure outside her known environment. The song is a narrative where the speaker, bearing the scars of experience, advises the younger generation against repeating her mistakes. Key phrases such as “No abandones tu costura” (Do not abandon your sewing) urge the girl not to leave her humble beginnings and simple work, a metaphor for staying true to her roots.
The theme of “staying true to one’s roots” is accentuated by the repeated reference to the “lamparita a kerosene” (kerosene lamp), symbolizing her simple, yet honest life. Contrastingly, the destructive allure of the outside world is depicted through the “niño engominado” (slick-haired boy) who represents the deceptive charm that lures the innocent into moral decay. The imagery of the “cabaret” embodies a place of lost values, contrasting the safety and purity of the neighborhood.
The song, recorded in 1927, reflects the conservative values and the societal expectations of Buenos Aires at the time. The period was marked by rapid urbanization which often led to cultural clashes between the old Argentine traditions and the emerging cosmopolitan influences. This tango, by advising the girl to remain in her neighborhood, also subtly comments on the fears of traditionalists who saw the erosion of customary values as threatening the societal structure.
Arturo Rodríguez Bustamante was a significant lyricist in the realm of Argentine tango, known for embedding cultural narratives and social advice within his compositions.