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Quejas del suburbio

Quejas del suburbio is a Tango written by Antonio Polito and recorded by Juan D’Arienzo in 1928. The Tango Quejas del suburbio is written by Antonio Polito, Juan D’Arienzo has recorded Quejas del suburbio with the singer Carlos Dante.
“Quejas del suburbio,” or “Laments of the Suburb,” resonates with the echoes of forgotten streets and the quiet cries of lives unspoken. It captures the soul of a neighborhood, where dreams and despair dance in the shadows of flickering streetlights. Through its melody, the piece weaves a tapestry of longing and resilience, evoking the heartbeat of the city’s outskirts.

Tango

Style

Juan D'Arienzo

Orchestra

Carlos Dante

Singer

Salvador Polito

Author

Antonio Polito

Composer

1928/1/1

Date

Carlos Dante
Carlos Dante
Juan D'Arienzo
Juan D’Arienzo

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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.

1928/1/1 – Callejas solo – Juan D-Arienzo
1928/1/1 – Puro grupo – Juan D-Arienzo
1928/1/1 – Juguete – Juan D-Arienzo
1928/1/1 – Esta noche me emborracho – Juan D-Arienzo
1928/1/1 – Sandia calada – Juan D-Arienzo

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Quejas del suburbio

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

Letra del Tango Quejas del suburbio

Corta el silencio de aquel suburbio
las notas tristes de un bandoneón
y ese quejido, triste y lloroso,
semeja el llanto de un corazón.
Y allá, a lo lejos, un organito
desgrana notas de un milongón
mientras la noche cubre cual manto
ese retazo de población.

Esas notas se callan de pronto
y una voz de mujer se hace oír,
es aquella continua que gime,
los que cruzan sin pena el vivir.
Yo fui la reina del suburbio,
yo fui la estrella del Pigall,
yo fui la paica más papusa
que otrora viera el arrabal.
Viví contenta con mi dicha,
soñé un mundo de placer,
hoy sólo sufro el desengaño
que trae consigo el padecer.

Es mi destino horrible infierno
que va matando toda ilusión,
y ya mi vida se va extinguiendo
en esa calle de población.
Por eso busco aquí un consuelo
para que calme a mi aflicción,
entre las notas del organito
y los quejidos del bandoneón.

English lyrics of the Tango "Quejas del suburbio"

The sorrowful notes of a bandoneon
cut through the silence of that suburb,
and that plaintive, tearful whine,
resembles the crying of a heart.
And there, in the distance, a street organ
scatters notes of a milongón,
while the night, like a cloak, covers
that patch of the population.

Suddenly, those notes fall silent
and a woman’s voice can be heard,
it’s that continuous moaning,
of those who cross life without sorrow.
I was the queen of the suburb,
I was the star of the Pigall,
I was the fanciest girl
ever seen in the slums.
I lived content with my fortune,
dreamed a world of pleasure,
today I only suffer the deception
that brings with it suffering.

It’s my fate, a horrible hell
that kills all illusion,
and now my life is fading away
on that street of the population.
That’s why I seek consolation here
to calm my affliction,
among the notes of the street organ
and the laments of the bandoneon.

Quejas del Suburbio by Salvador Polito

Quejas del suburbio is a Tango written by Salvador Polito and composed by Antonio Polito.



Story behind the Tango Quejas del Suburbio

The tango “Quejas del Suburbio” portrays the poignant story of a woman reflecting on her faded glory in the suburbs of Buenos Aires. The melancholic tune of the bandoneón and distant notes of a barrel organ set a somber scene, echoing the sadness of the protagonist’s life. These musical elements serve as a backdrop to her vocal lament, expressing nostalgia for a past filled with joy and admiration, now replaced by sorrow and despair. The woman recounts being a revered figure in the neighborhood and her journey from joy to heartbreak.



Symbolism of Quejas del Suburbio

The title itself, “Quejas del Suburbio” translated as “Complaints of the Suburb,” underscores the theme of lament and the harsh realities faced within the marginalized areas. Symbolic musical components, such as the “triste y lloroso” (sad and tearful) bandoneón and the organito, represent the undervalued and overlooked voices of suburbia. The music and the woman’s story parallel the suffering and decline often experienced in disenfranchised communities.

Key phrases such as “yo fui la reina del suburbio” (“I was the queen of the suburb”) and “hoy solo sufro el desengaño” (“today I only suffer disillusionment”) highlight her transition from adulation to abandonment, mirroring the broader socio-economic decline of certain city areas during the late 1920s in Argentina. Finally, her seeking solace in the familiar sounds of her surroundings underscores the emotional attachment and identity shaped by one’s environment.



Quejas del Suburbio in Historic Context

Recorded in 1928, “Quejas del Suburbio” reflects the socio-economic conditions of the time. Post-World War I Argentina faced urbanization challenges, with rising populations leading to expanded suburban slums under economic stress. This tango captures the underlying despair of those living on the margins, contrasting their former vibrancy with current hardships. The suburbs, often ignored and underrepresented, find a voice in this melancholic tale, offering a glimpse into the life and decay experienced during this transformative era in Argentine history.



Salvador Polito

Salvador Polito was an Argentine tango lyricist known for capturing the essence of urban and suburban life in early 20th-century Argentina through his poignant and reflective lyrics.