Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Silencio

Silencio is a Tango written by Carlos Gardel and recorded by Osvaldo Pugliese in 1959. The Tango Silencio is written by Carlos Gardel, Osvaldo Pugliese has recorded Silencio with the singer Jorge Maciel.
“Silencio,” translated from Spanish as “Silence,” unfolds in a musical narrative where every note whispers the profound eloquence of quietude. It captures the weight and solace found in the moments between sounds, where emotions speak louder than words. The piece invites listeners to embrace the pause, finding beauty and reflection in life’s unspoken intervals.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Pugliese

Orchestra

Jorge Maciel

Singer

Alfredo Le Pera

Author

Carlos Gardel

Composer

1959/8/6

Date

Jorge Maciel
Jorge Maciel
Osvaldo Pugliese
Osvaldo Pugliese

Discover Other Orchestras

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.

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Silencio

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

Letra del Tango Silencio

Silencio en la noche.

Ya todo está en calma.

El músculo duerme.

La ambición descansa.



Meciendo una cuna,

una madre canta

un canto querido

que llega hasta el alma,

porque en esa cuna,

está su esperanza.



Eran cinco hermanos.

Ella era una santa.

Eran cinco besos

que cada mañana

rozaban muy tiernos

las hebras de plata

de esa viejecita

de canas muy blancas.

Eran cinco hijos

que al taller marchaban.



Silencio en la noche.

Ya todo está en calma.

El músculo duerme,

la ambición trabaja.



Un clarín se oye.

Peligra la Patria.

Y al grito de guerra

los hombres se matan

cubriendo de sangre

los campos de Francia.



Hoy todo ha pasado.

Renacen las plantas.

Un himno a la vida

los arados cantan.

Y la viejecita

de canas muy blancas

se quedó muy sola,

con cinco medallas

que por cinco héroes

la premió la Patria.



Silencio en la noche.

Ya todo está en calma.

El músculo duerme,

la ambición descansa…



Un coro lejano

de madres que cantan

mecen en sus cunas,

nuevas esperanzas.

Silencio en la noche.

Silencio en las almas…

English lyrics of the Tango "Silencio"

Silence in the night.

All is now calm.

The muscle sleeps.

Ambition rests.

Rocking a cradle,

a mother sings

a beloved song

that reaches the soul,

because in that cradle,

lies her hope.

There were five siblings.

She was a saint.

There were five kisses

that every morning

gently brushed

the silver strands

of that little old lady

with very white hair.

There were five sons

who went off to the workshop.

Silence in the night.

All is now calm.

The muscle sleeps,

ambition works.

A bugle sounds.

The homeland is in danger.

And at the cry of war

men kill each other

covering the fields of France

with blood.

Today all has passed.

The plants are reborn.

A hymn to life

the plows sing.

And the little old lady

with very white hair

was left very alone,

with five medals

awarded by the homeland

for five heroes.

Silence in the night.

All is now calm.

The muscle sleeps,

ambition rests…

A distant chorus

of mothers singing

rock in their cradles,

new hopes.

Silence in the night.

Silence in the souls…

Silencio by Alfredo Le Pera

Silencio is a Tango written by Alfredo Le Pera and composed by Carlos Gardel.



Story behind the Tango Silencio

“Silencio” emerged in the context of 1959 Argentina, a period of great political and social changes. Literally translating to “Silence” in English, the tango delves deep into the poignant realms of war and personal sacrifice against a backdrop of deep night-time stillness. Through gentle and vivid storytelling, Le Pera portrays a stark contrast between the hush of nocturnal calm and the turbulence of lives impacted by war. The central narrative revolves around a mother whose sons go to war in France, only to never return, leaving her with nothing but medals and memories.



Symbolism of Silencio

The silence mentioned in the title symbolizes the stillness of the night but also represents the hushed voices of those who suffered or were lost. The juxtaposition of ‘silence’ with the mother’s lullaby and the eventual noise of war emphasizes how peace and violent disruption coexist. Key phrases like “el músculo duerme, la ambición trabaja” (the muscle sleeps, the ambition works) and “Silencio en la noche. Ya todo está en calma” (Silence in the night. Now everything is calm) convey a deep irony, contrasting everyday tranquility with the restless undercurrents of human endeavors and conflicts.



Silencio in historic Context

During the 1950s, Argentina was experiencing national reorganization and significant social changes. It was a time marked by political strife and the revival of cultural expressions. “Silencio” can be interpreted as both a reflection on the universal truths about wars’ impacts on families, particularly mothers, and a commentary on the specific historical experiences of Argentine soldiers during global conflicts like World War I, noted in the reference to “los campos de Francia” (the fields of France). The line “Y la viejecita de canas muy blancas se quedó muy sola,” highlighting a mother left alone with white hair, symbolizes a nation’s collective mourning and the personal grieving of mothers who lost their sons.



Alfredo Le Pera

Alfredo Le Pera was an Argentinean lyricist, recognized mainly for his frequent collaborations with the famed tango composer Carlos Gardel.