Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ

Un alma buena

Un alma buena is a Tango written by Aquiles Aguilar and recorded by Miguel Caló in 1972. The Tango Un alma buena is written by Aquiles Aguilar, Miguel Caló has recorded Un alma buena with the singer Alberto Podestá.
“Un alma buena,” translated to English as “A Good Soul,” is a melodic whisper of kindness and grace. In its tender notes, it paints the portrait of a heart that draws warmth from compassion, seeking to illuminate the shadows around it. This piece, whether tango or song, captures the essence of pure, selfless goodness woven into the fabric of humanity.

Tango

Style

Miguel Caló

Orchestra

Alberto Podestá

Singer

José María Contursi

Author

Aquiles Aguilar

Composer

1972/1/1

Date

Alberto Podestá
Alberto Podestá
Miguel Caló
Miguel Caló

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Un alma buena recorded by other Orchestras

Un alma buena recorded by other Orchestras

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Un alma buena

This is the translation of the Tango “Un alma buena” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Un alma buena” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Un alma buena

Como el grito de un puñal

Clavándose en la piel,

Y que llega al corazón

Con saña criminal,

Fue la voz que me contó

La dramática verdad,

Cuando dijo sin saber

Que aumentaba mi agonía:

“Pobrecita, se durmió”…

Se pobló mi soledad

Con duendes de dolor,

Y sin lágrimas grité

Tu nombre y mi rencor.



Vine y no debí venir

Enloquecido de pena,

Nadie me conoce aquí

Dirán: ¡Es un alma buena!

Quién de los que gimen a tu lado,

Quién de los que imploran

Y te rezan y te lloran y te besan

Te adoró desesperado…

Nadie más que yo.



Ante el cristo que está ahí,

Guardando su quietud,

Me arrodillo a suplicar

Por todo lo que fui,

Por las noches que pasé

Por lo mucho que sufrí.

Por tus ojos ya sin luz

Te suplico me perdones,

Por lo mucho que lloré.



Es el grito de un puñal

Clavándose en la piel,

La impotencia de querer

Besarte y no poder.

English lyrics of the Tango "Un alma buena"

Like the cry of a dagger

Plunging into the skin,

Reaching the heart

With criminal fury,

Was the voice that told me

The dramatic truth,

When it said, not knowing,

That it increased my agony:

“Poor thing, she fell asleep”…

My solitude filled

With sprites of pain,

And without tears, I screamed

Your name and my bitterness.

I came, though I should not have

Mad with sorrow,

No one knows me here,

They’ll say: “Such a kind soul!”

Who among those who moan beside you,

Who among those who plead

And pray and weep and kiss you

Loved you desperately…

No one but me.

Before the Christ that’s there,

Keeping his stillness,

I kneel to beg

For all that I was,

For the nights I spent

For so much that I suffered.

For your eyes now unlit,

I beg you forgive me,

For how much I wept.

It’s the cry of a dagger

Plunging into the skin,

The helplessness of wanting

To kiss you and unable to.

Un alma buena by José María Contursi

Un alma buena is a Tango written by José María Contursi and composed by Aquiles Aguilar.



Story behind the Tango Un alma buena

“Un alma buena” translates to “A Good Soul” in English, capturing the essence of lament and deep sorrow. The lyrics open with a vivid simile comparing a stabbing knife to the agony of receiving devastating news, illustrating the physical pain of emotional loss. The song narrates the agony of a person who learns about a loved one’s demise, a revelation that adds to his suffering. The acknowledgment of his presence at a place where he doesn’t belong underlines a sense of isolation and misunderstanding by others. The repeated line “Nadie más que yo” (No one more than me) emphasizes his unique and profound connection to the departed, adding to the poem’s emotional depth.



Symbolism of Un alma buena

The knife imagery in the lyrics is a powerful symbol of deep emotional pain, portraying how news or events can cut through one’s heart like a dagger. The repetition of this imagery at both the beginning and end of the song creates a circular narrative of ongoing suffering. The mention of a figure of Christ symbolizes seeking redemption or forgiveness, a common theme in moments of deep despair and reflection. The phrases describing the soul’s unrest in solitude, filled with “duendes de dolor” (sprites of pain), enrich the lyrical portrayal of internal torment and grief.



Un alma buena in historic Context

This Tango was created in 1972 in Argentina, a period marked by political instability and social unrest leading up to the military dictatorship in 1976. The collective national experience of loss, fear, and uncertainty may be reflected in the personal grief and despair expressed in “Un alma buena.” The year and the environment in which it was written likely influenced its themes of sorrow and solitude, resonating with the broader public sentiment of the era.



José María Contursi

José María Contursi was a renowned Argentine lyricist known for his deeply emotional and poignant contributions to the genre of Tango, often intertwining romantic anguish with broader existential themes.