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Pa’l nene

Pa’l nene is a Tango written by Edmundo Rivero and recorded by Edgardo Donato in 1953. The Tango Pa’l nene is written by Edmundo Rivero, Edgardo Donato has recorded Pa’l nene with the singer Roberto Morel.
“Pa’l nene” translates to “For the Child” in English. This evocative title suggests a melody crafted with tender affection, as if the notes are gentle whispers of lullabies or playful tunes of a child’s wonder. It might capture the innocence and curiosity of youth, painting a picture of nostalgic warmth and familial love through its harmonious strains.

Tango

Style

Edgardo Donato

Orchestra

Roberto Morel

Singer

Mario Battistella

Author

Edmundo Rivero

Composer

1953/11/27

Date

Roberto Morel
Roberto Morel
Edgardo Donato
Edgardo Donato

Discover Other Orchestras

Francini-Pontier – La cumparsita – 1973/1/1
Francini-Pontier – Derecho viejo – 1953/10/23
Francini-Pontier – El ciruja – 1950/3/7
Francini-Pontier – Una canción – 1953/9/22
Francini-Pontier – Por una mala mujer – 1952/8/21
Héctor Varela – Un bailongo – 1950/12/4
Héctor Varela – Lonjazos (Rezo gaucho) – 1956/7/12
Héctor Varela – Amor de chiquilina – 1959/8/21
Héctor Varela – Noches de cabaret – 1951/9/24
Héctor Varela – Ojos negros – 1967/7/14
Pedro Laurenz – Mala junta – 1947/1/16
Pedro Laurenz – Flores del alma – 1942/1/7
Pedro Laurenz – Amurado – 1968/12/1
Pedro Laurenz – Nada más que un corazón – 1944/10/4
Pedro Laurenz – Maldonado – 1943/12/9
Osvaldo Pugliese – Silencio – 1959/8/6
Osvaldo Pugliese – Cómo aprender a quererte – 1964/5/1
Osvaldo Pugliese – Y sigo esperando – 1957/4/4
Osvaldo Pugliese – Pavadas – 1969/10/1
Osvaldo Pugliese – Los mareados – 1985/12/26

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.

1953/11/27 – Por eso canto asi – Edgardo Donato
1953/11/25 – Es preciso que te vayas – Osvaldo Pugliese
1953/11/25 – La rayuela – Osvaldo Pugliese
1953/12/4 – Seleccion de tangos – Alfredo De Angelis
1953/11/19 – Y no te voy a llorar – Hector Varela

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Pa'l nene

This is the translation of the Tango “Pa’l nene” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Pa’l nene” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Pa'l nene

Berretines de ser guapo
que tenías muy adentro
te largaron para el centro
con un cheque al portador;
y una mina chiquetera
con su parla, al deschavarte,
se encargó de desplumarte
con el cuento del amor.
La patota sobradora
te apodó ‘El Nene de Abasto’.
Rebuscaste para el pasto
y en gayola fuiste a dar.
Empezó tu mala junta
fuiste chorro, prepotente,
y embalado en ese ambiente
de muy guapo te la das.

¡Guapo!
¡No! Vos no sos un guapo,
vos sos un compadrón,
la desvergüenza misma
de aquel flor de varón
que frente a una injusticia
y obrando con razón,
se escolaseaba entero
llegada la ocasión.
¡Guapo!
Guapo es el que labura
y gana con sudor
el pan que lleva a casa
sin arrastrar su honor.
Ni en la cara lleva tajos,
ni presume de matón,
ése sí que es hombre guapo
y no un maula como vos.

Gambeteándole a la yuta
le contás a los otarios
que tenés un prontuario
que confirma esa actuación;
y la vas de gran troesma,
de lancero y escruchante,
de balurdo y asaltante,
no sé con qué pretensión.
Veinticinco entre barrotes
en Caseros y Ushuaia
y en la Penitenciaría
baten justo lo que sos,
un chitrulo refundido
que entre el hampa hiciste sapo.
Y vos te la das de guapo,
¡dequera!… pobre de vos.

English lyrics of the Tango "Pa'l nene"

Fantasies of being tough
you held deep inside
they sent you to the center
with a blank check;
and a crafty girl,
with her speech, upon revealing you,
managed to pluck you
with the tale of love.
The boasting gang
nicknamed you ‘The Boy from Abasto’.
You scraped by for scraps
and ended up in the slammer.
Your bad company began;
you turned thief, domineering,
and caught up in that environment
you pretended to be tough.

Tough guy!
No! You are not tough,
you’re just a big talker,
the very shame
of that genuine man
who, facing injustice
and acting with reason,
would stand up completely
when the time came.
Tough guy!
Tough is the one who works
and earns his bread with sweat
bringing it home
without dragging his honor.
Doesn’t wear scars on his face,
nor does he boast of being a thug,
he indeed is a tough man
not a fraud like you.

Dodging the cops
you tell the gullible
that you have a record
that confirms that role;
and you pose as a great master,
a pickpocket and burglar,
a clumsy and a robber,
I don’t know with what intention.
Twenty-five years behind bars
in Caseros and Ushuaia
and in the Penitentiary
exactly reveal what you are,
a completely broken loser
who failed miserably among criminals.
And you pretend to be tough,
nonsense!… poor you.

Pa’l nene by Mario Battistella

Pa’l nene is a Tango written by Mario Battistella and composed by Edmundo Rivero.



Story behind the Tango Pa’l nene

The tango “Pa’l Nene” portrays the life of a young man who aspires to be considered tough and ventures into the underworld, only to be deceived and exploited. The lyrics express a critical, almost moralistic view towards a protagonist who confuses true toughness with superficial bravado and criminal activities. The transformation from a “Nene” (a naive young man) who is swayed by superficial attractions to a criminal serves as a narrative of misplaced values and the pitfalls of succumbing to societal pressures.



Symbolism of Pa’l nene

The tango uses stark contrasts between what it means to be genuinely tough versus being a pretender. Symbolism is heavily used, contrasting “guapo” (a tough guy) with “compadrón” (slang for someone who pretends to be tough). The true “guapo” is described in terms of hard work and integrity, not through criminal activities or physical scars. This sets a clear moral framework where virtues are associated with honest labor and genuine character strength, distancing it from the superficial toughness that relies on deceit and thuggery. The direct and confrontational tone of the lyrics dismisses the pretentious toughness of the protagonist, ultimately calling him “maula,” a term for someone deceitful or a fraud.



Pa’l nene in historic Context

Recorded in 1953, a period marked by political and social unrest in Argentina, “Pa’l nene” can be seen as a reflection of the times. It encapsulates the societal disillusionment and critiques the romanticization of the criminal life, which may have seemed appealing to the economically and socially disenfranchised youth of the time. Locations like “Caseros” and “Ushuaia,” mentioned as prisons, contextualize the reality of crime consequences, grounding the tango’s narrative in recognizable Argentine landmarks.



Mario Battistella

Mario Battistella was a renowned lyricist who often imbued his compositions with sharp social commentaries, capturing the complexities of human behavior and societal issues within the framework of Argentine tango.