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Testamento de arrabal

Testamento de arrabal is a Tango written by Oscar Castagniaro and recorded by Osvaldo Pugliese in 1949. The Tango Testamento de arrabal is written by Oscar Castagniaro, Osvaldo Pugliese has recorded Testamento de arrabal with the singer Jorge Vidal.
“Testamento de arrabal,” or “Alley Testament,” whispers the tales of a life’s end amidst the cobblestones. It speaks of a world where dreams and despair dance in the dimly lit streets, echoing the stories of those who came before. This musical testament captures the raw spirit and enduring legacy of the forgotten corners of the city.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Pugliese

Orchestra

Jorge Vidal

Singer

Raúl Hormaza

Author

Oscar Castagniaro

Composer

1949/12/7

Date

Jorge Vidal
Jorge Vidal
Osvaldo Pugliese
Osvaldo Pugliese

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Lyrics Translation of the Tango Testamento de arrabal

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

Letra del Tango Testamento de arrabal

Para siempre yo te dejo, mi querido Buenos Aires,

nunca más veré tus calles cuna mía de arrabal.

Sé muy bien que debo de irme y que debo conformarme,

pero antes de entregarme esto quiero confesar.

Yo no tengo más fortuna que el cariño de mi madre,

tres amigos de esos grandes, Melfi, Amilcar y José,

y el recuerdo de la noche, cuando al son de un organito,

con aires de compadrito mi primer tango bailé.



Que me velen las estrellas

en un patio de arrabal

y mi novia la bohemia,

se despida de mi anemia

dejando un beso lunar.

No es que quiera ni pretenda,

un favor pido nomás,

que los que sigan andando

siempre lo quieran al tango,

que no lo olviden jamás.



La noche que yo me vaya, que sólo vengan a verme

las humildes viejecitas con sus batas de percal,

los muchachos de Barracas, de San Telmo y de Pompeya,

y las pibas fabriqueras, virgencitas de arrabal.

Que se apaguen los letreros y los focos luminosos,

que acaricie a la cortada la luz débil de un farol.

Y en la marcha del cortejo, entre tangos y oraciones,

vayan cuatro bandoneones haciendo guardia de honor.

English lyrics of the Tango "Testamento de arrabal"

Forever I leave you, my dear Buenos Aires,
I’ll never again see your streets, my cradle of suburbs.
I know well I must leave and be content with it,
But before I give myself up, this I must confess.

I have no riches but the love of my mother,
Three great friends, Melfi, Amilcar, and José,
And the memory of the night, when by the sound of a little organ,
With airs of a dandy, I danced my first tango.

May the stars keep vigil
In a suburban backyard
And my bohemian girl,
Bid farewell to my frailty
Leaving behind a moonlit kiss.
It’s not that I want or ask much,
Just one favor I request,
May those who continue to walk
Always love the tango,
And never ever forget it.

The night that I depart, only let them come to see me
The humble old ladies in their percale robes,
The boys from Barracas, San Telmo, and Pompeya,
And the factory girls, virgins of the suburbs.
Let the signs turn off and the bright lights dim,
May a faint lamp caress the alleyway.
And in the march of the procession, among tangos and prayers,
Let four bandoneons stand guard of honor.

Testamento de arrabal by Raúl Hormaza

Testamento de arrabal is a Tango written by Raúl Hormaza and composed by Oscar Castagniaro.



Story behind the Tango Testamento de arrabal

“Testamento de arrabal” translates to “Suburb’s Will” in English, where “arrabal” refers to the outskirts or a neighborhood often associated with the working class and “testamento” represents a will or testament—typically written to express last wishes. In this tango, the poet pens a dramatic parting from Buenos Aires, the city that pulsates with the rhythms of tango, expressing a deep connection and simultaneously a heartbreaking farewell. Carrying a narrative of someone who leaves behind the streets that sculpted his identity, this piece is both an homage to the city and a personal confession of what was sincerely cherished in life—the simplicity of familial love, true friendships, and nostalgic tango nights.



Symbolism of Testamento de arrabal

The tango is rich in symbolic elements that deeply root it in the Argentinian cultural ethos. The mention of “las estrellas en un patio de arrabal” symbolizes a final resting place among the stars in a humble neighborhood, reflecting the poet’s wish to remain connected to his origins even in death. The request for his bohemian lover to leave a “lunar kiss” as a farewell denotes a deep-seated romanticism and the moon-kiss a poetic emblem of eternity and serenity. Furthermore, the poem delves into patriotic symbolism with respect to tango music, urging future generations to cherish it—tango thus stands as a national cultural pillar in the poem.



Testamento de arrabal in historic Context

Written and recorded in the late 1940s, “Testamento de arrabal” captures a period of profound socio-political change in Argentina. Post World War II, Argentina was under the rule of Juan Perón, a time marked by significant urban and industrial development which altered the face of old neighborhoods like San Telmo and Barracas mentioned in the lyrics. The tango reflects a nostalgic longing for the disappearing local traditions and communal spaces, embodying a resistance to the loss of cultural identity amidst rapid modernization and social transformation.



Raúl Hormaza

Raúl Hormaza is an Argentine lyricist known for his profound and emotionally stirring tangos, which often reflect themes of nostalgia, love, and socio-cultural commentary.