Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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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.
Pobre gringo is a Tango written by Juan Andrés Caruso, Alberto Vacarezza and composed by Antonio Scatasso.
The song “Pobre gringo” portrays the deep emotions and experiences of immigrants who came to America filled with dreams and hopes. The lyrics speak to the loneliness and sadness of these individuals, particularly focusing on the universal brotherhood among those who share this immigrant experience. The repetition of the line “Pobre gringo solo y triste” emphasizes the perpetual state of melancholy faced by the immigrant, arriving alone and hopeful but often confronted with harsh realities.
The title “Pobre gringo” translates to “poor foreigner” in English, setting the tone of empathy and camaraderie towards the immigrants. The words “con tu carga de ilusión” symbolize the burden of dreams that immigrants carry, hinting at the weight of their hopes and the often disappointing reality. Nature symbols, such as the “vírgenes llanuras” (virgin plains) and “jilguero” (songbird), are used to depict the American landscape as both welcoming and difficult to cultivate, reflecting the immigrant’s hard journey towards making a new home.
“Pobre gringo” was written in 1928, a period during which Argentina saw significant immigration, primarily from Europe. These immigrants arrived seeking better economic opportunities, often escaping wars and poverty in their homeland. The year of creation allows the song to serve as a reflection of integration challenges while also celebrating the contributions immigrants made to Argentine culture and economy, with lyrics that acknowledge the hardworking spirit of these newcomers, likening their sweat to the life-giving ‘savia’ (sap).
Juan Andrés Caruso and Alberto Vacarezza were renowned Argentine lyricists and playwrights, celebrated for capturing urban and suburban cultural nuances in their works.