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)

The lyrics of “Tabernero (El tabernero)” depict the tale of a man seeking solace and escape in alcohol, communicated through conversations with a bartender, who is both a facilitator and a witness to the protagonist’s torment and degradation. The narrator requests the bartender to keep filling his glass, indicating an ongoing struggle with despair and a desire to drown his sorrows. Key phrases such as “sigue llenando mi copa con tu maldito veneno!” (keep filling my cup with your damned poison!) highlight the self-destructive yet compulsive aspect of his drinking.

Symbolism of Tabernero (El tabernero)

The central symbol in the Tango is wine or alcohol described metaphorically as “poison” that reveals the protagonist’s awareness of the harm yet his helplessness in stopping. Wine represents both the cause of his pain and his temporary relief from it. The repetitive nature of his requests, “Sigue llenando mi copa” (keep filling my cup), underscores the cyclical trap of addiction where temporary escape leads to greater agony. Furthermore, the contrast between the numbing effect of alcohol and the vividness of life’s pains is poignantly encapsulated as the man realizes that “todos los que son borrachos no es por el gusto de serlo” (all who are drunkards are not so by choice).

Tabernero (El tabernero) in historic Context

Recorded in 1950s Argentina, a period marked by political and social upheavals, “Tabernero” taps into a broader cultural moment of existential questioning and societal challenges. Post World War II era was a time of massive shifts and uncertainties, influencing artists to explore themes of despair, loss, and searching for meaning in an increasingly perplexed world. In bars and taverns, commonly visited social spaces, many sought refuge from their struggles, making the setting of this tango a relatable symbol of collective coping mechanisms in a troubled era.

Raúl Costa Oliveri

Raúl Costa Oliveri was a noted Argentine lyricist whose works often delved into deep emotional and societal themes, capturing the essence of the human condition through tango.