Paciencia by Francisco Gorrindo

Paciencia is a Tango written by Francisco Gorrindo and composed by Juan D’arienzo.

Story behind the Tango Paciencia

“Paciencia” or “patience” in English, poetically describes an encounter between two former lovers who have significantly changed over time. The lyricist, Gorrindo, narrates a chance re-encounter that sparks introspection on the inexorable transformations wrought by life and time. Importantly, the text focuses on the realization that an attempt to reconnect is futile due to these personal transformations. The phrase “Ni vos sos la misma, ni yo soy el mismo” (Neither you are the same, nor am I the same) marks a poignant acceptance of their altered identities and circumstances.

Symbolism of Paciencia

The tango utilizes night (“Anoche”) as a symbolic moment of clarity and confrontation with the past. Night typically represents introspection and, in this context, serves as a backdrop for a difficult revisit to what once was. Expressions such as “Los años! … ¡La vida!…” (The years! … Life!…) emphasize the overarching power of time and experience over human intentions and desires, signaling an incisive resignation to the forces that shape and change lives irrevocably.

Paciencia in Historic Context

The mid-20th century in Argentina, when “Paciencia” was written, was a time of considerable social and political change, paralleling the personal transformations depicted in the tango. 1951 was also a significant year in Argentine history, marked notably by Eva Perón’s candidacy for the Vice Presidency, which was a major cultural and political shift. This landscape of change perhaps underscores the theme of the inevitability and impartiality of change, whether on the collective societal level or the intimate personal.

Francisco Gorrindo

Francisco Gorrindo was an acclaimed lyricist known for his poignant and reflective tangos that often explored themes of love, loss, and nostalgia.