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Tabaco

Tabaco is a Tango written by Armando Pontier and recorded by Miguel Caló in 1944. The Tango Tabaco is written by Armando Pontier, Miguel Caló has recorded Tabaco with the singer Raul Iriarte.
“Tabaco,” or “Tobacco” in English, conjures an image of smoky rooms where secrets linger in the air. The music dances like wisps of smoke, weaving tales of longing and passion, bringing the listener into a world of nostalgia and longing. It ignites emotions like the first drag from a cigarette, rich and intoxicating, leaving the heart yearning for more.

Tango

Style

Miguel Caló

Orchestra

Raul Iriarte

Singer

José María Contursi

Author

Armando Pontier

Composer

1944/6/14

Date

Raul Iriarte
Raul Iriarte
Miguel Caló
Miguel Caló

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Tabaco recorded by other Orchestras

Tabaco recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Tabaco

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

Letra del Tango Tabaco

Tu voz surgió de las sombras

como un lejano reproche;

tu voz que llora y me nombra

mientras más aún se asombran

los fantasmas de esta noche.

Están mis ojos cerrados

por el terror del silencio;

mi corazón, desgarrado

porque no me he perdonado

todo el mal que te causé.



Más, muchísimo más

extrañan mis manos tus manos amantes…

Más, muchísimo más

me aturdo al saberte tan cerca y tan distante…

Y mientras fumo forma el humo tu figura

y en el aroma del tabaco tu fragancia

me conversa de distancias,

de tu olvido y mi locura…

Tú que vives feliz

tal vez esta noche te acuerdes de mí.



Parece un sueño de angustias

del que despierto temblando

y están tiradas y mustias

las violetas de esa angustia

y mis ojos sollazando.

Los pobres siguen cerrados

por el terror del silencio…

Mi corazón, desgarrado

porque no me he perdonado

todo el mal que te causé.

English lyrics of the Tango "Tabaco"

Your voice emerged from the shadows
like a distant reproach;
your voice that weeps and names me
while the ghosts of this night
are even more astonished.

My eyes are closed
by the terror of silence;
my heart, torn apart
because I have not forgiven myself
for all the harm I caused you.

More, much more
my hands miss your loving hands…
More, much more
I’m stunned knowing you’re so near yet so distant…
And as I smoke, the smoke shapes your figure
and in the tobacco’s aroma, your fragrance
talks to me of distances,
of your forgetfulness and my madness…
You who live happily
maybe tonight, you’ll remember me.

It seems a dream of agonies
from which I wake up trembling
and the violets of that anguish
are thrown down and withered
and my eyes are weeping.
The poor remain closed
by the terror of silence…
My heart, torn apart
because I have not forgiven myself
for all the harm I caused you.

Tabaco by José María Contursi

Tabaco is a Tango written by José María Contursi and composed by Armando Pontier.



Story behind the Tango Tabaco

“Tabaco” emerges as a poignant reflection of regret and sorrow, narrating the distress of a speaker who is grappling with the consequences of his past actions. The lyrics express a deep sense of remorse and emotional turmoil, opening with a voice from the shadows reminding the speaker of past grievances. This voice, possibly a metaphor for memory or conscience, shakes the protagonist’s present, filled with guilt and self-reproach. The repetitive mention of causing hurt underscores a central theme of penitence.



Symbolism of Tabaco

The tango uses strong symbolic elements to deepen the narrative. The title itself, “Tabaco,” metaphorically represents a lingering addiction, possibly to past memories or a lost love, which haunts the speaker. The smoke forming the figure of a loved one illustrates the transient yet persistent nature of memory and regret, signifying how past actions leave an indelible imprint on the present. This imagery intensifies the sensory experiences, linking the smell and sight of tobacco smoke to the palpable absence of a beloved.



Key phrases such as “tu voz que llora y me nombra” and “mientras fumo forma el humo tu figura” profoundly illustrate the speaker’s inner conflict between the present perception and the haunting past. These phrases evoke a vivid imagery of memory and remorse materializing—echoing how the past continues to shape and torment the person’s current existence.



Tabaco in historic Context

Released in 1944, during a period of profound social and cultural transformations in Argentina, “Tabaco” reflects the broader sentiments of melancholy and introspection common in tango lyrics of the era. The period was marked by political upheaval and societal changes, elements that often found their ways into the themes of tango as expressions of individual and collective angst. The year it was recorded could suggest a reflection of personal stories against a backdrop of a changing society, where themes of loss, longing, and recovery resonated deeply with the audience.



José María Contursi

José María Contursi was a renowned Argentine lyricist known for his deeply emotional and often melancholic tangos.