Tal vez será su voz (Tal vez será mi alcohol) by

Tal vez será su voz (Tal vez será mi alcohol) is a Tango written by and composed by Lucio Demare.

Story behind the Tango Tal vez será su voz (Tal vez será mi alcohol)

The tango “Tal vez será su voz” draws its emotional depth from the evocation of memory and loss. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of nostalgic longing triggered by familiar sounds and settings. The speaker is engulfed by memories of a past love, recalled through the ambiance created by the tango, a melody that calls forth the shadows of past emotions and characters — Griseta, Malena, María Ester. Each name symbolizes an idealized, possibly unattainable, vision of a woman, reflecting on personal and emotional loss.

Symbolism of Tal vez será su voz (Tal vez será mi alcohol)

Symbolically, the “piano” and “shadows” create an atmosphere of intimate reflection, setting the stage for introspection. The “piano” evokes the emotional weight of the tango, a vehicle here for dealing with suffering and heartbreak. Shadows symbolize past memories that persistently haunt the narrator, suggesting uncontrollable nostalgia. The voice that “se apagó” (went out) suggests the death or departure of a loved one, whose memory lingers like a haunting refrain. The color imagery, such as “negro el pelo, los ojos verde gris” and “una triste flor de carmín,” enhances the melancholic and ethereal qualities of the beloved, cementing her in a timeless, mournful beauty.

Tal vez será su voz (Tal vez será mi alcohol) in historic Context

Created in 1943, during a Golden Age of tango in Buenos Aires, “Tal vez será su voz” communicates themes that resonated deeply with the Argentine cultural consciousness of the time. Buenos Aires was characterized by a vibrant tango scene where themes of love, loss, and nostalgia were culturally significant. The tango’s mood reflects a post-war sensibility marked by a deep yearning for stability and the familiar, a refuge from the turbulence shaped by global conflicts and economic uncertainty. The references to specific figures like Griseta, Malena, and María Ester connect the lyrics to well-known archetypes within tango songs of the era, shaping the narrative around shared cultural stories.

Lucio Demare was an influential Argentine composer and pianist, renowned for his contributions to tango in the mid-20th century. His compositions captured the emotive depth and cultural essence of Argentine society.