Se marchita un clavel by Oscar Rubens

Se marchita un clavel is a Tango written by Oscar Rubens and composed by Atilio Bruni.

Story behind the Tango Se marchita un clavel

The tango “Se marchita un clavel” (A carnation withers) by Oscar Rubens encapsulates the profound melancholy and longing of lost love. It depicts a narrative where the return of a beloved is fervently awaited, but ultimately, the beloved never returns. The lyrics express a deep emotional pain and anguish using the elements of nature, particularly the wind’s moaning, as a metaphor for the narrator’s inner turmoil.

Symbolism of Se marchita un clavel

The recurring symbolism in this piece revolves around natural elements, notably the wind and the seasons, primarily autumn. The moaning wind personifies the nostalgic and painful memories of the past love, intensifying the theme of loss and longing. The choice of autumn, a season signifying decay and the end of cycles, further emphasizes the hopelessness felt by the narrator over the love that never returns. The phrase “Gime, gime el viento” (Moans, moans the wind) symbolically connects to the soul’s cries, while “el otoño ya llegó… y no volvió” (autumn has arrived… and she did not return) reflects the inevitable passing of time with unresolved grief.

Se marchita un clavel in historic Context

The tango “Se marchita un clavel” was created in the 1960s, a period that saw a resurgence of traditional tango in Argentina, amidst the backdrop of a rapidly modernizing society. This juxtaposition between the old and the new can be felt in the melancholic longing for the past, represented in the song. This period also faced political and social upheavals, which may have influenced the themes of loss and the yearning for a return to better days expressed in the tango.

Oscar Rubens

Oscar Rubens was an influential Argentine lyricist and composer, known for his poignant and deeply emotional tangos.