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Ropa blanca

Ropa blanca is a Candombe written by Alfredo Malerba and recorded by Lucio Demare in 1943. The Candombe Ropa blanca is written by Alfredo Malerba, Lucio Demare has recorded Ropa blanca with the singer Raúl Berón.
“Ropa Blanca,” or “White Clothes,” dances through the air like a billowing breeze under the moonlight. The purity of its melody suggests a fresh beginning, a canvas untainted by past woes. This piece, whether instrumental or sung, whispers of the simplicity and serenity that can be found in the pristine moments of life.

Candombe

Style

Lucio Demare

Orchestra

Raúl Berón

Singer

Homero Manzi

Author

Alfredo Malerba

Composer

1943/6/10

Date

Raúl Berón
Raúl Berón
Lucio Demare
Lucio Demare

Discover Other Orchestras

Francisco Canaro – Madreselva (La polla) – 1916/1/1
Francisco Canaro – La virgen de stamboul (La virgen de estambul) – 1924/1/1
Francisco Canaro – Les garçonnes – 1925/1/1
Francisco Canaro – La sulamita – 1924/1/1
Francisco Canaro – Madame Pompadour (Shimmy de José y Josefa) – 1924/1/1
Armando Pontier – Qué fácil es decir – 1968/9/23
Armando Pontier – Cambalache – 1958/2/25
Armando Pontier – Es tu imagen – 1968/9/17
Armando Pontier – A la gran muñeca – 1957/6/25
Armando Pontier – Llorando la carta – 1955/8/10
Armando PONTIER – Verdemar – 1960/7/21
Aníbal Troilo – Danzarín – 1958/12/15
Aníbal Troilo – Chiqué – 1944/3/3
Aníbal Troilo – Rosicler – 1946/7/11
Aníbal Troilo – Pablo – (unknown date)
Aníbal Troilo – Palermo en octubre – 1968/11/28

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.

Ropa blanca recorded by other Orchestras

Ropa blanca recorded by other Orchestras

1943/6/10 – El trompito – Angel d-Agostino
1943/6/10 – Tomo y obligo – Angel d-Agostino
1943/6/10 – Pobre negra – Miguel Calo
1943/6/10 – La cosa fue en un boliche – Lucio Demare
1943/6/10 – Canta pajarito – Lucio Demare
Ropa blanca – 1943/5/3 – Anibal Troilo – Alberto Marino
Ropa blanca – 1943/6/10 – Lucio Demare – Raul Beron
Ropa blanca – 1943/4/12 – Ricardo Malerba – Orlando Medina

Lyrics Translation of the Candombe Ropa blanca

This is the translation of the Candombe “Ropa blanca” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Candombe “Ropa blanca” have been done with AI.

Letra del Candombe Ropa blanca

Lava la ropa, mulata,
pena y amor.
La espuma por blanca
parece algodón.
Tus manos por negras,
betún y carbón.
Lava la ropa, mulata,
pena y amor.
Me dicen que por el río
al soplo del viento sur,
se fue tu negro Fanchico
en una barquita azul.
Estás lavando y llorando,
llorando por su traición,
que es triste seguir amando
después que se fue el amor.
Me dicen que por el agua,
y que por el cañadón,
y que por la calle larga
robaron tu corazón.

Lava la ropa, mulata,
pena y amor.
Lavando y fregando
con llanto y jabón,
quítale las manchas a tu corazón,
a tu corazón.
Lava la ropa, mulata,
pena y amor.

Lavando la ropa blanca
con tus manos de tizón,
piensas en aquel pañuelo
que tu cariño bordó.
Lavando ropa en la orilla
las olas te hacen pensar
en los amores que un día
igual que vienen se van.
No llores que por el río
y al soplo del viento sur,
tal vez retorne Fanchico
en una barquita azul.

La ropa baila en el aire,
el viento la hace bailar
tus ojos tristes y grandes
sólo saben lagrimear,
ay… ay… ¡quién será que en la tarde
los hace llorar, llorar!

Lava la ropa, mulata,
pena y amor,
la espuma por blanca
parece algodón.
Tus ojos por negros,
betún y carbón.
Lavando y fregando
con llanto y jabón,
quítale las manchas
a tu corazón.

English lyrics of the Candombe "Ropa blanca"

Wash the clothes, mulata,
sorrow and love.
The foam so white
looks like cotton.
Your hands so black,
like shoe polish and coal.
Wash the clothes, mulata,
sorrow and love.
They tell me that down the river
by the blow of the southern wind,
your black Fanchico left
in a little blue boat.
You’re washing and crying,
crying over his betrayal,
how sad it is to keep loving
after love has gone.
They tell me that through the water,
and down the ravine,
and along the long street,
they stole your heart.

Wash the clothes, mulata,
sorrow and love.
Washing and scrubbing
with tears and soap,
remove the stains from your heart,
from your heart.
Wash the clothes, mulata,
sorrow and love.

Washing the white clothes
with your sooty hands,
you think of that handkerchief
embroidered with your affection.
Washing clothes on the shore
the waves make you think
about the loves that one day
come and go just the same.
Don’t cry, for down the river
and by the blow of the southern wind,
perhaps Fanchico will return
in a little blue boat.

The clothes dance in the air,
the wind makes them dance,
your large sad eyes
only know how to shed tears,
oh… oh… who makes them cry,
cry in the evening!

Wash the clothes, mulata,
sorrow and love,
the foam so white
looks like cotton.
Your eyes so black,
like shoe polish and coal.
Washing and scrubbing
with tears and soap,
remove the stains
from your heart.

Ropa blanca by Homero Manzi

Ropa blanca is a Tango written by Homero Manzi and composed by Alfredo Malerba.



Story behind the Tango Ropa blanca

“Ropa blanca,” translated as “White clothes” from Spanish, delves into themes of love, betrayal, and emotional turmoil. The lyrics are woven around the repetitive task of a mulatta woman washing clothes by the riverside, an act marred by the pain of her lost love, Fanchico, who left her. Homero Manzi uses the image of washing clothes as a metaphor for trying to cleanse the heart of pain and heartache while the element of water and washing symbolizes the flow and ebb of emotions.



Symbolism of Ropa blanca

The central symbolism in “Ropa blanca” is found in the contrast between the white clothes and the character’s dark hands, “Tus manos por negras, betún y carbón.” This contrast represents purity and stain, innocence and experience. The lyrics repeatedly mention the efforts to remove stains, which symbolically connects to the woman’s desire to wash away the sorrow from her heart. Another powerful use of symbolism is in the water and the south wind, which can be seen as carriers of fate and change, embodying hope that Fanchico may return.



Ropa blanca in historic Context

Recorded in 1943, during a period of profound social and cultural shifts in Argentina, “Ropa blanca” reflects the often overlooked narratives of marginalized communities, particularly of African descent in Argentina. During this time, Tango was evolving, serving both as a form of entertainment and a vessel for social commentary. The character Fanchico and the reference to candombe (a dance and musical style of African origin) ties the piece back to the Afro-Argentine community, highlighting themes of love, loss, and survival in the face of adversity.



Homero Manzi

Homero Manzi was a prominent Argentine tango lyricist, known for his poignant and evocative lyrics that often captured the essence of the working-class life and sentiment in Argentina.