Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Sur

Sur is a Tango written by Aníbal Troilo and recorded by Francisco Rotundo in 1948. The Tango Sur is written by Aníbal Troilo, Francisco Rotundo has recorded Sur with the singer Floreal Ruiz.
“Sur,” meaning “South” in English, evokes the wistful nostalgia of a distant, warm horizon. It whispers stories of longing, time’s embrace, and the memory of sunlit streets echoing with laughter and loss. Through its haunting melody, it cradles the soul in a dance of history and heartache, a journey to where the sun never sets.

Tango

Style

Francisco Rotundo

Orchestra

Floreal Ruiz

Singer

Homero Manzi

Author

Aníbal Troilo

Composer

1948/12/14

Date

Floreal Ruiz
Floreal Ruiz
Francisco Rotundo
Francisco Rotundo

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.

Sur recorded by other Orchestras

Sur recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Sur

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

Letra del Tango Sur

San Juan y Boedo antigua, y todo el cielo,

Pompeya y más allá la inundación.

Tu melena de novia en el recuerdo

y tu nombre florando en el adiós.

La esquina del herrero, barro y pampa,

tu casa, tu vereda y el zanjón,

y un perfume de yuyos y de alfalfa

que me llena de nuevo el corazón.



Sur,

paredón y después…

Sur,

una luz de almacén…

Ya nunca me verás como me vieras,

recostado en la vidriera

y esperándote.

Ya nunca alumbraré con las estrellas

nuestra marcha sin querellas

por las noches de Pompeya…

Las calles y las lunas suburbanas,

y mi amor y tu ventana

todo ha muerto, ya lo sé…



San Juan y Boedo antiguo, cielo perdido,

Pompeya y al llegar al terraplén,

tus veinte años temblando de cariño

bajo el beso que entonces te robé.

Nostalgias de las cosas que han pasado,

arena que la vida se llevó

pesadumbre de barrios que han cambiado

y amargura del sueño que murió.

English lyrics of the Tango "Sur"

San Juan and Boedo old, and all the sky,

Pompeya and beyond the flood.

Your bridal mane in memory

and your name blooming in the farewell.

The blacksmith’s corner, mud and pampas,

your house, your sidewalk and the ditch,

and a scent of herbs and alfalfa

that fills my heart anew.

South,

a wall and then…

South,

a light from a store…

You will never see me as you once did,

leaning against the display window

and waiting for you.

I will no longer light with the stars

our dispute-free march

through the nights of Pompeya…

The streets and the suburban moons,

and my love and your window

everything has died, I know it now…

San Juan and Boedo old, lost sky,

Pompeya and upon reaching the embankment,

your twenty years trembling with affection

under the kiss I then stole from you.

Nostalgia for the things that have passed,

sand that life took away

sadness of neighborhoods that have changed

and bitterness of the dream that died.

Sur by Homero Manzi

Sur is a Tango written by Homero Manzi and composed by Aníbal Troilo.



Story behind the Tango Sur

The lyrics of “Sur” paint a vivid picture of nostalgic recollections, capturing a longing for the past that emanates from the streets and neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. The song references specific locations such as San Juan y Boedo, Pompeya, and the flood regions beyond, which are key areas in the southern part of the city. Themes of lost youth, love, and the irrevocable changes over time are central to the song’s emotional landscape.



Symbolism of Sur

“Sur” uses rich symbolism to convey depth of emotion and the passage of time. The memory of a bride’s flowing hair and recollections of the protagonist’s name flowering in farewell evoke personal loss and the end of a romantic chapter. References to landmarks, local flora, and sensory experiences (like the smell of herbs and alfalfa) symbolize a deep connection to place and times gone by. The line “paredón y después…” followed by “una luz de almacén,” suggests a boundary or an end, and then a glimmer of hope or light, having a profound contemplative effect.



Sur in Historic Context

“Sur,” created in 1948 by Manzi, reflects the socio-cultural environment of post-war Argentina. During this era, Buenos Aires was undergoing significant changes, with rapid urbanization that altered the city’s landscape and the social fabric of its neighborhoods. This tango, with its lyrics centered around specific locales within Buenos Aires, highlights a bittersweet acceptance of change and the inexorable flow of life, themes which likely resonated deeply during a period of national transformation and introspection.



Homero Manzi

Homero Manzi was a renowned Argentine lyricist, famed for his profound Tango lyrics that captured the essence of urban landscape and human emotion.