Tabernero (El tabernero) by Raúl Costa Oliveri

Tabernero (El tabernero) is a Tango written by Raúl Costa Oliveri and composed by Fausto Frontera.

Story behind the Tango Tabernero (El tabernero)

“Tabernero” tells a somber tale of a person who seeks refuge in alcohol, conveyed through intense lyrical dialogue with the bartender, symbolizing the only remaining friendship in a life marred by losses and disillusionment. The speaker reveals a deep-seated melancholy and perhaps personal failures or losses as reasons for his descent into alcoholism, as he asks the bartender repeatedly to fill his cup with “maldito veneno” (cursed poison), highlighting both the self-destructive behavior and the bitter solace he finds in liquor.

Symbolism of Tabernero (El tabernero)

The recurring image of the “maldito veneno” (cursed poison) symbolizes the toxic yet seductive escape of alcohol, juxtaposed with the emotional poison that the drinker feels has infiltrated his life. The act of the bartender filling the cup becomes a metaphor for life’s continuous challenges and sorrows that the protagonist feels he can only drown with alcohol. Phrases like “Yo quiero matar el alma/ que idiotiza mi cerebro” (“I want to kill the soul/ that stupefies my brain”) reflect the internal battle and desire for oblivion. Furthermore, when the lyricist writes “no es por el gusto de serlo, / sólo Dios conoce el alma / que palpita en cada ebrio” (it’s not for the pleasure of it, / only God knows the soul / that beats in every drunkard), it presents alcoholism as a misunderstood affliction where each person hides untold pain.

Tabernero (El tabernero) in historic Context

Recorded in 1927 in Argentina, “Tabernero” emerges in a period marked by social and economic transitions. This era saw the early roots of the tango culture amidst the closely packed cafes and bars of Buenos Aires, where immigrants and locals mingled, sharing their often-troubled stories. The figure of the bartender, as portrayed in this tango, serves as a confidant and enabler, playing a significant role in the social fabric of Argentine culture, not just serving drinks but observing the ebb and flow of human hardship and moments of frailty.

Raúl Costa Oliveri

Raúl Costa Oliveri was an influential lyricist in the tango genre, capturing deep human emotions and societal reflections through his evocative lyrics.