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Piedad

Piedad is a Tango written by Carlos Percuoco and recorded by Osvaldo Fresedo in 1928. The Tango Piedad is written by Carlos Percuoco, Osvaldo Fresedo has recorded Piedad with the singer Ernesto Famá.
“Piedad,” meaning “Mercy” in English, is a poignant journey through haunting melodies and tender rhythms. It evokes the human heart’s capacity for compassion and the bittersweet depth of forgiveness. As the music flows, it gathers the essence of longing and grace, painting a vivid picture of redemption through the language of sound.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Fresedo

Orchestra

Ernesto Famá

Singer

Luis De Biase

Author

Carlos Percuoco

Composer

1928/10/9

Date

Ernesto Famá
Ernesto Famá
Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo

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Piedad recorded by other Orchestras

Piedad recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Piedad

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

Letra del Tango Piedad

La tarde agonizaba, la noche se aproxima,
de un templo las campanas llamaban para orar.
Cuando una joven triste, de rostro demacrado,
con gesto resignado se inclina ante el altar.

Hay un profundo dolor
en su palidez mortal.
Sus ojos dicen claro
que lloran sin cesar.

¡Ruego…
por el hombre que yo quiero!
Dice…
con amargo sinsabor.
¡Ruego…
por su vida que es mi vida!
¡Ruego…
esta plegaria de amor!
¡Ruego…
por el hombre que me ha dado!
¡Ruego…
por quien no podré olvidar!
¡Lloro!
Porque ahora me lo quitas,
para
toda una eternidad.

La noche silenciosa tendió su negro manto,
el templo, solitario parece ya quedar,
cuando una triste queja se escucha en el espacio
que dice sollozando: Piedad, Señor, piedad!

English lyrics of the Tango "Piedad"

The evening was fading, the night draws near,
from a church the bells rang calling for prayer.
When a young saddened woman, with a gaunt face,
with a resigned gesture, she bowed before the altar.

There’s a deep pain
in her mortal paleness.
Her eyes clearly speak
of ceaseless tears.

I pray…
for the man I love!
She says…
with bitter disillusionment.
I pray…
for his life which is my life!
I pray…
this prayer of love!
I pray…
for the man who has loved me!
I pray…
for the one I can’t forget!
I cry!
Because now you take him away,
forever
to eternity.

The silent night laid down its black cloak,
the church, now lonely, seems to be left alone,
when a sad lament is heard in the silence
sobbingly saying: Mercy, Lord, mercy!

Piedad by Luis De Biase

Piedad is a Tango written by Luis De Biase and composed by Carlos Percuoco.

Story behind the Tango Piedad

The lyrics of “Piedad” depict a poignant scene set during a desolate evening, transitioning into night, outside a church where bells toll for prayer. A young, distraught woman approaches the altar with a look of resignation. Her prayer is one of deep sorrow and desperation, as she pleads for the life and love of a man deeply important to her—suggesting a tragic or dire situation involving her loved one, perhaps concerning his health or a grave danger he faces.



Symbolism of Piedad

The key phrases such as “la tarde agonizaba” (the evening was dying) and “noche se aproxima” (night approaches) set a somber, heavy tone, symbolizing the end of a phase or life itself. The church bells “llamaban para orar” (called to pray) indicate a call for divine intervention, emphasizing the themes of hope and despair. The woman’s plea, “¡Ruego… por el hombre que yo quiero!” (I plead… for the man that I love!), captures the essence of her profound emotional pain and passionate love. Notably, the repeated use of “Ruego” (I plead) underscores her desperation and the intensity of her prayers.



Piedad in historic Context

Tango, emerging in the late 19th century and reaching a zenith in the 1920s in Argentina, often reflected the emotional and societal struggles of its time. 1928 finds Argentina in a period of political and economic fluctuation, with societal undercurrents of both hope and despair mirroring the personal plea in “Piedad.” This Tango, recorded in these turbulent times, uses personal tragedy to mirror the wider societal anxieties and concerns, thus resonating deeply with its audience.



Luis De Biase

Luis De Biase was an influential figure in the world of Tango, known for his poignant lyrics that often encapsulated deep emotional and cultural elements of Argentinian life.