Por un cariño by Gerardo Alcázar

Por un cariño is a Tango written by Gerardo Alcázar and composed by J. Demon.

Story behind the Tango Por un cariño

The lyrics of “Por un cariño” are an exploration of unrequited love and the despair that follows. The narrator expresses deep sorrow and feelings of abandonment, having loved someone who did not return their affections in the same way. The lines move from an initial plea of love to the realization of neglect and the subsequent loss of faith and hope. Gerardo Alcázar, with profound simplicity, captures the essence of lost love and the hollow void it leaves behind.

Symbolism of Por un cariño

“Por un cariño” skillfully uses metaphors and symbolism to deepen the emotional impact. The line “Era mi vida frágil como el armiño,” compares the narrator’s fragile life to an ermine, emphasizing purity and sensitivity, which highlights the profound effect of the emotional trauma experienced. Furthermore, “¡Por ti de Dios me olvidé / por ti la fe yo perdí!” illustrates the extent of the narrator’s sacrifice, losing their spiritual compass and faith, underscoring the depth of their emotional investment and subsequent disillusionment.

Por un cariño in historic Context

Recorded in Argentina in 1959, a time marked by political and social unrest, “Por un cariño” perhaps mirrors the national sentiment of loss and despair. During an era where tango was a vessel for expressing deeper societal issues, Alcázar’s lyrics resonate not only with personal heartbreak but also possibly with a broader sense of instability and change. The personal losses reflected in the song can be seen as a metaphor for wider cultural or national sentiment of the time.

Gerardo Alcázar

Gerardo Alcázar was a distinguished lyricist known for his somber yet profoundly touching lyrics in the tango genre.