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Silbando

Silbando is a Tango written by Cátulo Castillo and recorded by Osvaldo Fresedo in 1952. The Tango Silbando is written by Cátulo Castillo, Osvaldo Fresedo has recorded Silbando with the singer Héctor Pacheco.
“Silbando,” translated as “Whistling” in English, dances through the air like a gentle breeze. This evocative title suggests a melody that weaves through moments, as if carried on the wind, humming life’s quiet serenades. Through its notes, “Silbando” conjures the essence of nostalgia, capturing whispers of joy and longing that resonate in the soul.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Fresedo

Orchestra

Héctor Pacheco

Singer

José González Castillo

Author

Cátulo Castillo

Composer

1952/5/13

Date

Héctor Pacheco
Héctor Pacheco
Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo

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Silbando recorded by other Orchestras

Silbando recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Silbando

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

Letra del Tango Silbando

Una calle en Barracas al Sud,
una noche de verano,
cuando el cielo es más azul
y más dulzón el canto del barco italiano…
Con su luz mortecina, un farol
en la sombra parpadea
y en un zaguán
está un galán
hablando con su amor…

Y, desde el fondo del Dock,
gimiendo en lánguido lamento,
el eco trae el acento
de un monótono acordeón,
y cruza el cielo el aullido
de algún perro vagabundo
y un reo meditabundo
va silbando una canción…

Una calle… Un farol… Ella y él…
y, llegando sigilosa,
la sombra del hombre aquel
a quien lo traicionó una vez la ingrata moza…
Un quejido y un grito mortal
y, brillando entre la sombra,
el relumbrón
con que un facón
da su tajo fatal…

Y desde el fondo del Dock,
gimiendo en lánguido lamento,
el eco trae el acento
de un monótono acordeón…
Y, al son que el fuelle rezonga
y en el eco se prolonga
el alma de la milonga
va cantando su emoción.

English lyrics of the Tango "Silbando"

A street in Barracas al Sud,
a summer night,
when the sky is bluest
and sweeter is the song of the Italian boat…
With its dim light, a lantern
flickers in the shadows
and in a doorway
a lover stands
talking with his love…

And, from the depths of the Dock,
moaning in languid lament,
the echo carries the tone
of a monotonous accordion,
and across the sky wails
the howl of some stray dog
and a pensive crook
goes whistling a song…

A street… A lantern… She and he…
and, arriving stealthily,
the shadow of that man
whom the ungrateful girl once betrayed…
A moan and a deadly cry
and, shining in the shadow,
the gleam
with which a dagger
delivers its fatal slash…

And from the depths of the Dock,
moaning in languid lament,
the echo carries the tone
of a monotonous accordion…
And, to the sound that the bellows grumble
and in the echo it prolongs
the soul of the milonga
goes singing its emotion.

Silbando by José González Castillo

Silbando is a Tango written by José González Castillo and composed by Cátulo Castillo.


Story behind the Tango Silbando

The Tango “Silbando” unfolds in a street in Barracas al Sud, depicting a scene on a summer night where the sky shines the bluest and a nearby Italian ship serenades the area. The lyrics narrate a tale of love, betrayal, and tragedy. As a couple converses in a doorway under a flickering streetlight, a jealous ex-lover approaches stealthily. The tension culminates in a fatal stabbing, accompanied by the continuous echo of an accordion blending with the surroundings. This tango captures a moment of profound emotional intensity, portraying themes of love’s dark turn to vengeance.


Symbolism of Silbando

In “Silbando,” the accordion’s monotonous sound and the whistle in the background symbolize life’s ongoing and often unnoticed tragedy amidst everyday scenes. The flickering streetlight casts shadows that hint at the hidden dangers and the fragility of peace, which can be shattered at any moment. The howling of a stray dog underlines a sense of foreboding and mourning, complementing the song’s somber narrative. The accordion’s lament and the somber whistling perfectly encapsulate the sorrow and emotional depth of the milonga, a musical genre typically expressing melancholy and deep feelings.


Silbando in Historic Context

“Silbando” was recorded in 1952, a period marked by political and social changes in Argentina. During this time, tango music often mirrored the complexities of society, weaving stories of personal strife into the broader fabric of cultural identity. Barracas al Sud, mentioned in the song, is a working-class neighborhood in Buenos Aires. This geographical reference grounds the tango in a setting familiar to many inhabitants, resonating with their experiences of love, loss, and betrayal. The historical and geographical context not only enriches the narrative but also makes it compellingly authentic to the audience of that era.


José González Castillo

José González Castillo was a renowned Argentine playwright, poet, and tango lyricist, celebrated for his deep narrative style and connection with the working-class culture.