Tristezas de la calle Corrientes by Homero Expósito

Tristezas de la calle Corrientes is a Tango written by Homero Expósito and composed by Domingo Federico.

Story behind the Tango Tristezas de la calle Corrientes

“Tristezas de la calle Corrientes” translates to “Sorrows of Corrientes Street,” reflecting the bustling urban life and its underlying melancholies of Buenos Aires’ famous street. This tango lyric portrays the street as both a river carrying the city’s pain and a valley of coins needed for bread, symbolizing daily hardship and survival. Expósito uses vivid imagery to encapsulate the dual essence of city life—its vibrant surface and poignant depth of despair.

Symbolism of Tristezas de la calle Corrientes

The repeated line, “Triste. ¡Si, por ser nuestra!” (“Sad. Yes, because it is ours!”), encapsulates the core emotional expression, marking an ownership of collective sadness and personal grief. The street’s artificial lights (“pálida luz”) crying the city’s sorrows, alongside mentions of alcohol and cardboard laughter, depicts a facade used to mask true feelings. This symbolism is tightly-packed in the lyrics, using the street and its features as metaphors for broader existential and societal themes, such as disillusionment and the commodification of feelings (“Mercado de las tristes alegrías”).

Tristezas de la calle Corrientes in historic Context

Recorded in 1952, this work by Homero Expósito is deeply embedded within the social fabric of Buenos Aires post-World War II, during a time of great political and economic upheaval. Corrientes Avenue, known for its theatres, bookstores, and cafes, is depicted here as a witness to and a participant in the city’s suffering and resilience. The powerful image of the street bleeding unceasingly from cuts made by the obelisk’s dagger encapsulates a persistent struggle amidst societal changes.

Homero Expósito

Homero Expósito was a prominent Argentine lyricist and poet, known for his profound and highly emotive tango lyrics.