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Orillas del Plata

Orillas del Plata is a Tango written by Juan Maglio and recorded by Juan D’Arienzo in 1935. Juan D’Arienzo has recorded Orillas del Plata as an instrumental Tango.
“Orillas del Plata,” meaning “Shores of the Silver River,” evokes the shimmering banks where stories of longing and passion unfold. This musical piece captures the essence of tango, with its rhythms reflecting the ebb and flow of life along the river’s edge. The melody whispers tales of love, loss, and the timeless dance of souls intertwined with the waters of Río de la Plata.

Tango

Style

Juan D'Arienzo

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Ricardo Llanes

Author

Juan Maglio

Composer

1935/12/31

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Juan D'Arienzo
Juan D’Arienzo

Discover Other Orchestras

Orquesta Típica Victor – Triste payaso – 1926/12/6
Orquesta Típica Victor – El pibe – 1933/9/6
Orquesta Típica Victor – El trust de los tenorios – 1936/12/9
Orquesta Típica Victor – Te fuiste ja ja – 1929/3/7
Orquesta Típica Victor – Nene caprichoso – 1943/7/2
Domingo Federico – Dibujos – 1951/7/3
Domingo Federico – Portero suba y diga – 1960/1/12
Domingo Federico – Esa noche – 1946/7/22
Domingo Federico – Preludio a la muerte pobre – 1961/1/1
Domingo Federico – Al compás del corazón (Late un corazón) – 1947/11/14
José Garcia – Junto a tu corazón – 1942/7/27
José Garcia – Si alguna vez – 1943/12/11
José Garcia – El once (A divertirse) – 1943/1/13
José Garcia – Verde luna – 1942/7/27
José Garcia – Que no sepan las estrellas – 1945/4/16
Enrique Francini – Buen amigo – 1977/1/1
Enrique Francini – Yira yira – 1977/1/1
Enrique Francini – Melodía oriental – 1970/8/26
Enrique Francini – El gurí – 1956/3/7
Enrique Francini – Elegante papirusa – 1956/7/27

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.

1935/12/31 – 9 de Julio – Juan D-Arienzo
1935/12/27 – Las carreras – Roberto Firpo
1935/12/27 – Tu clavel – Roberto Firpo
1936/1/14 – La guitarrita – Juan D-Arienzo
1936/1/14 – Silueta portena – Juan D-Arienzo

Letra del Tango Orillas del Plata

Van pasando solitarias
sobre mi vida,
las naves rotas
de mi dolor;
sin hallar un puerto
sin hallar amparo
sin contemplar un faro
que alumbre amor.
Y mientras van surcando
los negros mares
de mis pesares,
claman por ti;
que abandonaste
en la ribera
sin primavera
de mi vivir.

Solas van… por doquier
y solas siguen
a impulsos de las penas
del corazón;
no hay un alma
que las contemple
con las miradas
de la pasión;
¿Dónde irán?… no lo sé;
tal vez muy lejos
a hundirse en las borrascas
de la aflicción
en esa noche
cuando infinito
resuene el grito
del aguilón.

Llevan tu olvido cruel
y doloridos se van
con el recuerdo fiel
de lo que nunca olvidarán.

Y así van solitarias
y entristecidas
mirando el cielo
de mi clamor;
la impulsan mis desvelos
las lleva mi delirio,
las conduce el martirio
del sinsabor;
y no encuentran un puerto
ni una ribera
que las acoja
con caridad;
los mares que atraviesan
yacen desiertos
como los campos
de soledad.

English lyrics of the Tango "Orillas del Plata"

Lonely they pass
over my life,
the broken ships
of my pain;
without finding a harbor
without finding shelter
without seeing a lighthouse
to illuminate love.
And as they sail
the dark seas
of my sorrows,
they cry out for you;
you who abandoned
on the shore
without springtime
of my existence.

Alone they go… everywhere
and alone they continue
driven by the heart’s sorrows;
there’s no soul
to behold them
with looks
of passion;
Where will they go?… I do not know;
perhaps far away
to sink in the storms
of affliction
on that night
when endlessly
the cry
of the storm resounds.

They carry your cruel forgetfulness
and go away in pain
with the faithful memory
of what they will never forget.

And so they go lonely
and saddened
looking at the sky
of my outcry;
my sleeplessness drives them,
my delirium carries them,
the torment of distaste leads them;
and they find no harbor
nor a shore
that welcomes them
with charity;
the seas they cross
lie deserted
like the fields
of loneliness.

Orillas del Plata by Ricardo Llanes

Orillas del Plata is a Tango written by Ricardo Llanes and composed by Juan Maglio.

Story behind the Tango Orillas del Plata

“Orillas del Plata” translates to “Shores of the Plata” in English, referring to the Rio de la Plata, a river that forms part of the border between Argentina and Uruguay. The lyrics of “Orillas del Plata” depict vividly the theme of solitude and longing. The imagery of “broken ships” of sorrow that float aimlessly without a harbor symbolizes the author’s profound emotional desolation and unrequited love. This idea of eternal wandering without finding solace or passion paints a painful picture of life without the loved one.

Symbolism of Orillas del Plata

Ricardo Llanes uses evocative marine imagery to deepen the emotional impact of the lyrics. Ships, oceans, and shores traditionally symbolize journeys, both physical and spiritual, reflecting life’s trials and movements. Phrases like “sobre mi vida, las naves rotas de mi dolor” (over my life, the broken ships of my pain) and “sin hallar un puerto” (without finding a harbor) enhance the acute sense of abandonment and despair. The sea’s vastness contrasts with the solitude and emptiness experienced when devoid of love, amplifying the sense of an unreachable resolution or peace.

Orillas del Plata in historic Context

The Tango was recorded on December 31, 1935, during an era where Argentina experienced significant social and political changes. The 1930s in Argentina were troubled times with economic difficulties and the political instability that followed the Infamous Decade. In this context, tango often mirrored society’s sentiments, expressing the collective melancholy, disillusionment, and nostalgia felt by many. The yearning and solitude depicted in the lyrics could also be indirectly reflecting the societal hardships of that era. Moreover, being situated along the Rio de la Plata, Buenos Aires was a bustling port with arrivals and departures contributing to the feeling of transience encapsulated in the song.

Ricardo Llanes

Ricardo Llanes was a prominent tango lyricist known for his profound and emotive lyrics that often captured the melancholy essence of the genre.