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Rompe y raja

Rompe y raja is a Tango written by Vicente Demarco and recorded by Juan D’Arienzo in 1960. The Tango Rompe y raja is written by Vicente Demarco, Juan D’Arienzo has recorded Rompe y raja with the singer Horacio Palma.
“Rompe y raja,” which translates to “Break and Slash” in English, is a vivid dance of emotions swaying through time. The name evokes the passionate intensity of a tango, where each step and note pierce the air with fervent elegance. It captures a world of contrasts, blending the abrupt with the graceful, like life’s most enduring harmonies.

Tango

Style

Juan D'Arienzo

Orchestra

Horacio Palma

Singer

Vicente Demarco

Author

Vicente Demarco

Composer

1960/7/27

Date

Horacio Palma
Horacio Palma
Juan D'Arienzo
Juan D’Arienzo

Discover Other Orchestras

Juan D’Arienzo – Calla Bandoneon – 1956/8/23
Juan D’Arienzo – Se prendió la colorada – 1964/10/2
Juan D’Arienzo – No te hagas la lechuguita – 1968/8/27
Juan D’Arienzo – Cansada de sufrir – 1961/9/27
Juan D’Arienzo – Estás conmigo – 1952/8/13
Alfredo Gobbi – Por eso canto así – 1953/10/27
Alfredo Gobbi – Estrellita del sur – 1951/4/26
Alfredo Gobbi – Fraternal – 1954/8/26
Alfredo Gobbi – Racing Club – 1949/10/13
Alfredo Gobbi – Que me quiten lo bailao – 1951/6/26
Astor Piazzolla – Marrón y azul – 1956/8/9
Astor Piazzolla – Marrón y azul – 1957/1/1
Astor Piazzolla – Boedo – 1957/1/1
Astor Piazzolla – Villeguita – 1948/12/14
Astor Piazzolla – Tanguisimo – 1961/1/1
Florindo Sassone – La cumparsita – 1966/3/21
Florindo Sassone – Una noche en Montecarlo – 1968/8/27
Florindo Sassone – Buenos Aires – 1965/8/23
Florindo Sassone – Angustia de un perdon – 1975/1/1
Florindo Sassone – Trasnochando – 1979/1/1

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.

1960/7/27 – Yo soy un picaflor – Juan D-Arienzo
1960/7/27 – Rosita de arrabal – Juan D-Arienzo
1960/7/27 – Detras de tus mentiras – Juan D-Arienzo
1960/7/28 – Ayudame – Rodolfo Biagi
1960/7/28 – Te burlas tristeza – Rodolfo Biagi

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Rompe y raja

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

Letra del Tango Rompe y raja

Carro… y pescante ladeao
Con el estribo a un costao
Y arriba, un guapo de faja…
Y no es de irse a baraja
Si se arma un lío entre hombres,
Le queda justito el nombre
Lo llaman el “rompe y raja”.
Carro y pescante ladeao
Con resto de algún mercao
Tuvo una historia de amor.

Ella, con sus ojos negros
Era una flor de arrabal,
Entre mozos pretenciosos
“Tayaba” un medio canoso
Que la había entusiasmao.
Todo tenía planeado
Bien, el “tordiyo” mentao,
Pero cuando iba a llevarse
A la flor, vino a estrellarse
Con el del carro ladeao.
Rompe y raja, más ligero
Fue el primero en atacar,
Se trenzaron, corajearon…
Y el “tordiyo” fue finao.

Al poco tiempo, la flor
Le dio enterito su amor
A “rompe y raja”, por guapo…
Había que verlos bailando
En la milonga más brava,
Y en el rodar de los tangos
Se supo que la adoraba.
Pero el destino jugó
La carta de la traición
Y al cielo se la llevó.

English lyrics of the Tango "Rompe y raja"

Carriage… and slanted driver’s seat
With the running board off to one side
And above, a tough guy with a sash…
And it’s not for playing cards
If there’s trouble among men,
The name fits him just right
They call him “smash and dash”.
Carriage and slanted driver’s seat
With remains of some market
Had a love story.

She, with her dark eyes
Was a flower of the outskirts,
Among pretentious young men
She chose a somewhat gray-haired man
Who had thrilled her.
Everything was planned
Well, by the mentioned gray-haired man,
But when he was about to take
The flower, he came crashing
Into the man with the slanted driver’s seat.
Smash and dash, quicker
Was the first to attack,
They tangled, they fought courageously…
And the gray-haired man was finished.

After a while, the flower
Gave all her love
To “smash and dash”, for being so tough…
It was something to see them dancing
In the wildest milonga,
And in the rolling of the tangos
It was known that he adored her.
But fate played
The card of betrayal
And took her to heaven.

Rompe y raja by Vicente Demarco

Rompe y raja is a Tango written by Vicente Demarco and composed by Vicente Demarco.



Story Behind the Tango Rompe y Raja

“Rompe y Raja” tells a riveting narrative set in the gritty arrabals (suburbs) of Argentina. The name “Rompe y raja” translates to “Break and Run” in English, hinting at a theme of emergency or swift action in complicated scenarios. The lyrics paint a vivid picture starting with a tilted cart and a skilled, band-wrapped driver known for handling tough situations. The central plot unfolds around a love story featuring a desirable woman with black eyes, caught in a love triangle between an older suitor and the daring, quick-acting ‘rompe y raja’. The emotional climax is reached when a confrontation leads to a fatal outcome, ultimately weaving themes of love, betrayal, and tragedy.



Symbolism of Rompe y Raja

The tango employs strong imagery and symbolism to deepen the narrative. The “carro… y pescante ladeao” (tilted cart and driving box) symbolizes a crooked or unpredictable path, much like the tumultuous relationships described. The character ‘rompe y raja’, characterized by his decisiveness, represents the valiant hero in the realm of the arrabal, standing out amid chaos and emotional conflicts. The intense love affair followed by betrayal and loss symbolically explores the transient nature of happiness and the inevitability of fate. “Y en el rodar de los tangos, Se supo que la adoraba” (And in the roll of the tangos, it was known that he adored her) reflects how deeply intertwined tango music is with the raw human emotions of love and sorrow.



Rompe y raja in Historic Context

The tango was written in the era of 1960 in Argentina, a time rich with cultural evolution in Latin America but also marked by social and political upheaval. Tango, often a reflection of the lower classes’ struggles and passions, served as a cultural outlet for expression. “Rompe y raja,” with its themes of love, valor, and tragedy, mirrors the turbulent period during which it was created, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit amidst hardship. The setting in the arrabals not only authenticates the narrative but also resonates with the marginalized demographics that found solace and identity in Tango’s embrace.



Vicente Demarco

Vicente Demarco, both the lyricist and composer of “Rompe y raja,” is recognized for capturing the essence of Argentine tango with his poignant storytelling and intricate musical compositions.