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Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle)

Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle) is a Tango written by Raúl de los Hoyos and recorded by Osvaldo Fresedo in 1927. Osvaldo Fresedo has recorded Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle) as an instrumental Tango.
“Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle)” translates to “Nights of Colón (The Soul of the Street)” in English, capturing both the original Spanish charm and its profound meaning. These nights are a tapestry of whispered stories and hidden dreams, where shadows dance under the city lights. The soul of the street speaks through the rhythm, carrying the essence of life, love, and longing in every note.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Fresedo

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Roberto Cayol

Author

Raúl de los Hoyos

Composer

1927/9/16

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo

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Edgardo Donato – Demasiado tarde – 1945/1/1
Edgardo Donato – Porteña linda – 1940/4/30
Edgardo Donato – Se va la vida – 1950/10/16
Edgardo Donato – Tus horas negras – 1931/1/1
Juan MAGLIO – Milonguero viejo – 1928/4/2
Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – El tapial – 1941/1/8
Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – Gran Hotel Victoria (Hotel Victoria) – 1948/8/13
Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – Matasano – 1937/7/4
Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – El repique – 1944/3/31
Cuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo – Champagne tango – 1946/9/25
Florindo Sassone – Angustia de un perdon – 1975/1/1
Florindo Sassone – Siempre te nombra – 1947/11/13
Florindo Sassone – El chamuyo – 1970/4/16
Florindo Sassone – Mi noche triste – 1949/2/15
Florindo Sassone – El choclo – 1973/1/1

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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.

Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle) recorded by other Orchestras

Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle) recorded by other Orchestras

1927/9/16 – Siga el corso – Osvaldo Fresedo
1927/9/13 – Flores negras – Julio De Caro
1927/9/13 – Gallo ciego – Julio De Caro
1927/9/13 – Mala junta – Julio De Caro
1927/9/20 – No salgas de tu barrio – Osvaldo Fresedo
Noches de Colon (El alma de la calle) – 1927/9/16 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Instrumental
Noches de Colon (El alma de la calle) – 1941/8/14 – Ricardo Tanturi – Alberto Castillo

Letra del Tango Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle)

También los goces que da el dinero
en otros tiempos los tuve yo
y en las veladas del crudo invierno
en auto propio llegue al Colón.
Por los gemelos acribillado
supe a las damas interesar,
mientras lucía desde mi palco
el blanco peto del rico frac.

¡A qué vuelve a mi memoria
la miseria a renovar
el recuerdo de otras horas,
si hasta el aire cuando pasa
trae la sorda risa helada
de la que así me perdió!
Yo le di el amor más noble
y mi hogar, mi vida entera;
yo por ella perdí el nombre
y pensando sólo en ella
fui de todo, hasta ladrón.

Los paraísos del alcaloide
para olvidarla yo paladeé
y por las calles, como soñando,
hecho un andrajo me desperté.
En las grandezas que da el dinero
no pongas nunca tu vanidad,
que mi fortuna fue como un sueño
y traicionera mi realidad.

¡Cuánta plata en las carreras
junto a ella dejé yo!
¡Qué de amigos en mi mesa
de mantel de puro hilo
que se fueron como el vino
que mi mano les brindó!
Son más crueles que el invierno
del destino los rigores…
¡Gran señor y pordiosero
yo también tuve mis pobres
en mis noches de Colón!

English lyrics of the Tango "Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle)"

Even the joys that money brings
I once had in old times too
And to the Colon’s evensongs of harsh winter
In my own car, I arrived anew.
Pierced by the glances through opera glasses
I knew how to interest the ladies,
While from my box I flaunted
The rich tailcoat’s white chest.

Why does it return to my memory
only to renew the misery
the recall of another time,
if even the air as it passes
brings the muffled, icy laughter
of the one who thus ruined me!
I gave her the noblest love
and my home, my entire life;
For her, I lost my name
and thinking only of her
I became everything, even a thief.

In the paradises of the drug
to forget her I indulged
and through the streets, as if dreaming,
a ragged mess, I awoke.
In the grandeur that money brings
never place your pride,
for my fortune was like a dream
and my reality, treacherous.

How much money at the races
alongside her, I left behind!
How many friends at my table
of pure linen cloth
who vanished like the wine
that my hand offered them!
More cruel than the winter
are the hardships of fate…
Great lord and beggar
I too had my paupers
in my nights at the Colon!

Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle) by Roberto Cayol

Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle) is a Tango written by Roberto Cayol and composed by Raúl de los Hoyos.



Story behind the Tango Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle)

The lyrics of “Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle)” depict the poignant transformation of a man who went from prosperity to poverty. This tango tells the tale of a man who once had wealth and enjoyed the pleasures it brought, including attending elite events at “Colón” (presumably referencing the famous Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires). He recalls how he was the center of attention in social circles, symbolized by his opera binoculars and elegant attire. However, his fortunes changed drastically, leading to misery and loss of social status, deeply influenced by a treacherous love that led him astray to the point where he “was everything, even a thief.”



Symbolism of Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle)

Several symbolic elements in “Noches de Colón” enhance its emotional depth. The “opera glasses” and the “wealthy tailcoat” (rico frac) symbolize the protagonist’s former high social status, which contrasts with his later destitution. The bitter reference to “even the air when it passes bears the muffled, icy laughter of her who thus lost me” illustrates his ongoing torment from memories of the woman who ruined him. The phase in his life represented by “my nights at Colón” points to a time of glory, also indicating the dramatic cultural gap within his two worlds—the high society when wealthy and the streets where he ended up destitute.



Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle) in historic Context

Written in 1927, “Noches de Colón (El alma de la calle)” was created during a time of significant social and economic changes in Argentina. The Roaring Twenties brought about a wave of modernity and a stark class divide was apparent. The tango, a musical genre deeply woven into the fabric of Argentine culture, often reflects themes of love, betrayal, and social tragedies, mirroring the volatile spirit of the times. This tango serves as a reflective narrative on the unpredictability of fortune, emphasizing how quickly one’s social standing could change in the rapidly evolving socio-economic landscape of Buenos Aires.



Roberto Cayol

Roberto Cayol was an Argentine lyricist known for his contributions to the tango genre. His works often delved into themes of love, loss, and societal reflections.