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Quién tuviera dieciocho años

Quién tuviera dieciocho años is a Tango written by Guillermo Barbieri and recorded by Ángel d’Agostino in 1944. The Tango Quién tuviera dieciocho años is written by Guillermo Barbieri, Ángel d’Agostino has recorded Quién tuviera dieciocho años with the singer Ángel Vargas.
“Quién tuviera dieciocho años,” or “Oh, to be eighteen again,” whispers of youthful dreams and boundless possibilities. The title captures a nostalgic yearning for the vigor and innocence of those formative years, a time when every horizon seemed within reach. It evokes a bittersweet reflection on the passage of time and the fleeting nature of youth.

Tango

Style

Ángel d'Agostino

Orchestra

Ángel Vargas

Singer

Guillermo Barbieri

Author

Guillermo Barbieri

Composer

1944/1/31

Date

Ángel Vargas
Ángel Vargas
Ángel d'Agostino
Ángel d’Agostino

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Lyrics Translation of the Tango Quién tuviera dieciocho años

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

Letra del Tango Quién tuviera dieciocho años

Cuando vuelvo la mirada a lo pasado
y me fijo que está todo diferente
mil recuerdos se me agolpan en la mente
y revivo aquellas horas del ayer.
Lindos años que nos dieron la alegría
de llenarnos de placeres y de encantos,
alejando del alma los quebrantos
para sentir tan sólo la gloria de un querer.

¡Quién tuviera dieciocho años
y anduviera en las reuniones
conquistando corazones
con su porte juvenil!
¡Quién llegara a ser el mozo
que en aquel tiempo pasado
siempre fuera respetado
por valiente y por gentil!

Ya no somos los muchachos bullangueros
que vivíamos soñando en el mañana
sin llegar a comprender la ilusión vana
que era el ansia de ser hombre de una vez.
Ya no somos de los tiempos que se fueron
los muchachos parlanchines y andariegos,
que entonando los versos de Carriego
a más de una muchacha logramos conmover.

¡Quién tuviera dieciocho años
y olvidase que en la vida
hay penas que son heridas
que matan en la vejez!
¡Qué lindo si uno pudiera
volver sin ningún quebranto
a disfrutar los encantos
que nos diera la niñez!

English lyrics of the Tango "Quién tuviera dieciocho años"

When I look back at the past
and notice everything is different,
a thousand memories crowd my mind,
and I relive those hours of yesterday.
Beautiful years that gave us the joy
of filling ourselves with delights and charms,
driving away the sorrows of the soul
to feel only the glory of love.

Oh, to be eighteen again,
and attend gatherings,
winning hearts
with youthful grace!
Oh, to be that young man
who, in times gone by,
was always respected
for being brave and courteous!

We are no longer the noisy youths
who lived dreaming of tomorrow,
never understanding the vain illusion
that was the eagerness to be a man at once.
We are no longer from the times that passed,
the talkative, wandering boys,
who, singing Carriego’s verses,
managed to move more than one girl.

Oh, to be eighteen again,
and forget that in life
there are pains that are wounds
that kill in old age!
How wonderful it would be
to return without any sorrow
to enjoy the charms
given by childhood!

Quién tuviera dieciocho años by Guillermo Barbieri

Quién tuviera dieciocho años is a Tango written and composed by Guillermo Barbieri.

Story behind the Tango Quién tuviera dieciocho años

The tango “Quién tuviera dieciocho años” reflects on the passage of time and the nostalgia for youth. The lyrics express a longing to return to the age of eighteen, a time remembered for joy, social gatherings, and initial romances. It presents youth as a period of life free from the sorrows that come with age and responsibility.

Symbolism of Quién tuviera dieciocho años

The poem is rich with symbolism and stands as an ode to the wistfulness of lost youth. The repeated lament, “¡Quién tuviera dieciocho años!” translates to “If only I were eighteen again!” symbolizing a universal desire to return to one’s youth, epitomizing innocence and freedom from life’s burdens. The references to influencing others with verses from poet Evaristo Carriego suggest the transformative and inspirational power of youth and its experiences.

Quién tuviera dieciocho años in historic Context

Created in Argentina in 1944, the world was still embroiled in World War II, casting a pall of uncertainty and sorrow over many lives. In this context, Barbieri’s yearning for the simplicity and carefree nature of youth captures a collective desire to escape the harsh realities of the time. It may also reflect a social commentary on the evolution of societal norms, where respect and valor were cherished during youth.

Guillermo Barbieri

Guillermo Barbieri was an Argentine musician and lyricist, mostly known for his compositions that explore themes of nostalgia and cultural tradition.