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Total pa qué sirvo

Total pa qué sirvo is a Tango written by Aníbal Troilo and recorded by Aníbal Troilo in 1941. The Tango Total pa qué sirvo is written by Aníbal Troilo, Aníbal Troilo has recorded Total pa qué sirvo with the singer Francisco Fiorentino.
The piece titled “Total, pa qué sirvo” translates from Spanish to “After all, what am I good for?” This evocative phrase suggests an existential pondering, exploring the depths of self-worth and purpose. It invites listeners to reflect on their place in the world, capturing the melancholic yet resilient spirit of a tango’s essence, where emotions dance between uncertainty and introspection.

Tango

Style

Aníbal Troilo

Orchestra

Francisco Fiorentino

Singer

Enrique Dizeo

Author

Aníbal Troilo

Composer

1941/9/8

Date

Francisco Fiorentino
Francisco Fiorentino
Aníbal Troilo
Aníbal Troilo

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Juan D’Arienzo – Trago amargo – 1939/12/22
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Juan D’Arienzo – De antaño – 1939/9/27
Juan D’Arienzo – Me llaman milonga – 1961/10/9
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Florindo Sassone – Canción del amanecer – 1971/1/1
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These Tangos, Valses, and Milongas were recorded around the same time. Take a look to discover what else this orchestra—or others—may have recorded during the same week or even on the exact same day.

Total pa qué sirvo recorded by other Orchestras

Total pa qué sirvo recorded by other Orchestras

1941/9/8 – El cuarteador – Anibal Troilo
1941/9/9 – Adios arrabal – Angel d-Agostino
1941/9/9 – Ahora no me conoces – Angel d-Agostino
1941/9/6 – Por el camino – Orquesta Tipica Victor
1941/9/6 – Se conocieron en Rio – Orquesta Tipica Victor
Total pa que sirvo – 1941/9/8 – Anibal Troilo – Francisco Fiorentino
Total pa que sirvo – 1964/1/1 – Jose Basso – Alfredo Belusi

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Total pa qué sirvo

This is the translation of the Tango “Total pa qué sirvo” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Total pa qué sirvo” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Total pa qué sirvo

No sé, pero a veces quisiera encontrarlo
así frente a frente, pa’ver si es capaz
de mirarme fijo al interpelarlo
ya que es de coraje como lo pintás.
¿O creés que he nacido pa’vivir temblando?
Soy mucho más hombre de lo que sabés.
Desde hoy, día y noche lo vi’andar buscando
y donde se cuadre ya me vas a ver.

Total, ¡pa’qué sirvo!
Sin ella mi vida,
no es vida ni es nada.
No sé más qué soy.
Total, ¡pa’qué sirvo!
Si mi alma está herida,
si no hay madrugada
que me halle dormido,
me encuentro perdido.
¡No ves cómo estoy!

Pensé muchas noches en no hacerle caso,
dejarlo tranquilo, perdonar su acción,
y no hallo remedio; mis horas las paso
cerrando los puños con esta obsesión.
Habló mi experiencia. Por eso hasta ahora,
luché pa’ser fuerte, no lo quise ver.
Y todo es inútil, mis ojos la lloran
tendré que perderme por esa mujer.

English lyrics of the Tango "Total pa qué sirvo"

I don’t know, but sometimes I’d like to find him
face to face, to see if he’s able
to look me straight as I question him
since you paint him as a man of courage.
Or do you think I was born to live trembling?
I’m much more a man than you know.
From today, day and night, I’ll be searching for him
and wherever it happens, you’ll see me there.

After all, what good am I!
Without her, my life,
is no life at all.
I don’t know what I am anymore.
After all, what good am I!
If my soul is wounded,
if there’s no dawn
that finds me asleep,
I’m lost.
Can’t you see how I am?

I thought many nights of ignoring him,
leaving him be, forgiving his actions,
but I find no remedy; I spend my hours
clenching fists with this obsession.
My experience spoke. That’s why until now,
I fought to be strong, didn’t want to see him.
And it’s all useless, my eyes weep for her
I’ll have to lose myself for that woman.

Total pa qué sirvo by

Total pa qué sirvo is a Tango written by and composed by Aníbal Troilo.

Story behind the Tango Total pa qué sirvo

The tango “Total pa qué sirvo” tells the story of profound emotional turmoil following a romantic betrayal. The protagonist contemplates a confrontation with his rival, feeling overwhelmed and consumed by a mix of anger, shame, and heartache. It’s a narrative of inner conflict and unresolved love, captured with a passionate intensity characteristic of tango’s emotional depth.

Symbolism of Total pa qué sirvo

The tango employs powerful symbolism, such as “cerrando los puños” (clenching fists), which conveys the protagonist’s bottled-up rage and frustration. The phrase “sin ella mi vida / no es vida ni es nada” poignantly underscores the emptiness felt in the absence of the beloved, highlighting the dramatic, existential despair inherent in the narrative. Similarly, the repeated questioning of purpose—“Total, ¡pa’qué sirvo!”—emphasizes the profound loss of identity and meaning without love.

Total pa qué sirvo in historic Context

Written in 1941 Buenos Aires, the tango reflects a period marked by rich cultural life amidst wartime global upheaval. The vibrant yet tumultuous atmosphere of Buenos Aires would have resonated with themes of conflict and passion depicted in the tango. Furthermore, the 1940s were a time when tango music expressed sentiments of longing, struggle, and resilience, often mirroring the societal shifts and personal tribulations of its listeners.

Aníbal Troilo, the composer of this tango, was a legendary Argentine bandoneón player and composer, renowned for his emotive and sophisticated contributions to tango music. Known affectionately as “Pichuco,” Troilo’s work captured the essence of Argentine culture and human emotion.