Ojos tristes (Ojos muertos) by Alfredo Navarrine

Ojos tristes (Ojos muertos) is a Tango written by Alfredo Navarrine and composed by Rafael Iriarte.

Story behind the Tango Ojos tristes (Ojos muertos)

The lyrics of “Ojos tristes (Ojos muertos)” envelop a narrative of profound disillusionment and despair. The poem starts with a dusk that falls “without dawn” over a once cheerful childhood, suggesting a loss of innocence and hope as life progresses. The progression from youth to old age is marked by a growing disillusionment, where youth no longer dreams and the elderly plead for something lost or unattainable. This paints a grim picture of a life journey where brightness fades into darkness without a promise of renewal.

Symbolism of Ojos tristes (Ojos muertos)

Significant symbolism in these lyrics centers around the juxtaposition of sight and blindness. The poet cleverly contrasts physical blindness with a metaphorical blindness to societal decay and moral corruption. Phrases like “El ciego no es aquel que a tientas va,” which translates to “The blind man is not he who gropes his way,” and “Más ciega es la ceguera que no quiere mirar,” or “Blinder is the blindness that does not wish to see,” underscore this theme. The “Ojos tristes (Ojos muertos)” (Sad Eyes (Dead Eyes)) metaphorically reflect a populace that, while able to see, is spiritually or morally dead, disconnected from the warmth “del sol de las ternuras” (the sun of tenderness). This visual portrayal intensifies the urgency and tragedy of the lyrical narrative.

Ojos tristes (Ojos muertos) in historic Context

This tango was written in the immediate aftermath of World War II, a period marked globally by significant upheaval, loss, and mourning. Argentina, while geographically distant from the main theatres of war, was not isolated from these global shifts. The reference to Judas and Cain in the lyrics could symbolize betrayal and murder, possibly echoing societal betrayals and the moral crises of the time. The song reflects not just personal grief or cultural melancholy, but a universal despair and longing for something purer—perhaps a clarity or moral vision that seemed at the time obscured or lost.

Alfredo Navarrine

Alfredo Navarrine was an Argentine lyricist known for his poignant and reflective themes in tango music.