Temo by Atilio Perasso

Temo is a Tango written by Atilio Perasso and composed by Mario Rafaelli.

Story behind the Tango Temo

The lyrics of “Temo” narrate a story steeped in doubt and emotional turmoil. The protagonist expresses a deep fear (“Temo”) that their beloved no longer holds affection for them. This fear is juxtaposed against their desperate hope for a reassurance of love, evident when they plead to be told if the distancing is just a test of their affection. The lyrical content encapsulates a universal theme of the insecurity and vulnerability that often accompany deep love.

Symbolism of Temo

The recurring word “Temo,” meaning “I fear” in English, sets the emotional tone of the song, enveloping it in a cloak of anxiety and vulnerability. The eyes, often described as windows to the soul, are symbolically used here to represent evasion or avoidance, highlighting a sense of emotional disconnect. Phrases like “Entre canciones de besos” (Amidst songs of kisses) and “Dime que es mío, muy mío,” (Tell me it’s mine, very much mine) use romantic and possessive language, illustrating the depth of the narrator’s longing and the intensity of their love.

Temo in historic Context

The tango was recorded in 1940, a period when Argentina was on the brink of significant political and cultural transformations. This period often reflected themes of introspection and emotional complexity in its artistic outputs, perhaps influenced by the global uncertainties of the time. “Temo” by addressing themes of love, fear, and reassurance, taps into the emotional undercurrents prevalent in the societal context of Argentina in the early 1940s, thereby resonating widely with its audience.

Atilio Perasso

Atilio Perasso was an Argentine lyricist known for his contributions to the Tango genre.