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Una pena

Una pena is a Tango written by Adolfo Rosquellas and recorded by Rodolfo Biagi in 1938. The Tango Una pena is written by Adolfo Rosquellas, Rodolfo Biagi has recorded Una pena with the singer Teófilo Ibáñez.
“Una pena” translates to “A Sorrow” in English. It evokes the bittersweet embrace of melancholy, where each note resonates with the heart’s deepest yearnings and unspoken pains. This piece, whether instrumental or sung, captures the essence of longing, weaving a tapestry of emotion that dances between past regrets and the tender hope of tomorrow.

Tango

Style

Rodolfo Biagi

Orchestra

Teófilo Ibáñez

Singer

Arturo Albert

Author

Adolfo Rosquellas

Composer

1938/12/2

Date

Teófilo Ibáñez
Teófilo Ibáñez
Rodolfo Biagi
Rodolfo Biagi

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Recommended

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.

Una pena recorded by other Orchestras

Una pena recorded by other Orchestras

1938/12/2 – Lejos de ti – Rodolfo Biagi
1938/12/9 – Alas rotas – Edgardo Donato
1938/12/9 – Embrujo – Edgardo Donato
1938/11/23 – Aromas – Osvaldo Fresedo
1938/11/23 – Dulce amargura – Osvaldo Fresedo
Una pena – 1941/11/5 – Angel d-Agostino – Angel Vargas
Una pena – 1938/12/2 – Rodolfo Biagi – Teofilo Ibanez

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Una pena

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

Letra del Tango Una pena

Tengo en el alma una tristeza
Que acaso ya no tenga cura,
Una sangrante mordedura
De mi primer amor;
Y la añoranza de unos ojos
Llenos de dulce brujería,
Cuya mirada soñé mía
En un momento de ilusión.

Déjenme solo, amigos míos,
Para soñarla mejor,
Para sufrir, con mi dolor,
Para llorar con mi muerta ilusión,
Para pensar en el perdón.

Cuando le dije tembloroso: “Te amo,
mi pobre vida es plenamente tuya”,
Jamás pensé que la respuesta suya
Pudiese ser un terminante: ¡No!,
¡Cómo se tuerce el porvenir de un hombre
si lo acompaña un desdichado amor!

Fresquito ramo de hermosura y gracia
Pero mujer al fin, voluble y fría,
Entre las flores, su coquetería
Disimulaba el arma que me hirió;
Ella marcó los rumbos de mi vida
¿Qué puedo hacer, amigo, en mi dolor?

Ir al encuentro del destino
Aparentando complacencia,
Sin ambiciones ni creencias
Sin fe y sin ilusión;
Con la añoranza de esos ojos
Llenos de dulce brujería,
Cuya mirada soñé mía
En un momento de candor.

¡Déjenme solo!, Amigos míos,
Con mi pobre corazón.

English lyrics of the Tango "Una pena"

I carry in my soul a sadness
That perhaps cannot be cured,
A bleeding bite
From my first love;
And the yearning for some eyes
Full of sweet witchcraft,
Whose gaze I dreamed as mine
In a moment of illusion.

Leave me alone, my friends,
To dream of her even better,
To suffer with my pain,
To weep for my dead illusion,
To think about forgiveness.

When I told her tremblingly: “I love you,
My poor life is entirely yours,”
I never thought her answer
Could be a definitive: No!
How the future of a man twists
When accompanied by an unfortunate love!

Fresh bouquet of beauty and grace
But a woman after all, volatile and cold,
Among the flowers, her coquetting
Concealed the weapon that wounded me;
She marked the paths of my life,
What can I do, my friend, in my pain?

To meet my destiny
Pretending complacency,
Without ambitions or beliefs
Without faith or illusion;
With the yearning for those eyes
Full of sweet witchcraft,
Whose gaze I dreamed as mine
In a moment of naivety.

Leave me alone!, My friends,
With my poor heart.

Una pena by Arturo Albert

Una pena is a Tango written by Arturo Albert and composed by Adolfo Rosquellas.



Story behind the Tango Una pena

“Una pena” translates to “A Sorrow” in English, which succinctly captures the essence of this tango. The lyrics poetically convey the sorrow and regret of unreciprocated love. The song’s narrator speaks of a deep, incurable sadness rooted in their first love, accentuated by vivid memories of enchanting eyes filled with “sweet witchcraft” that once offered hope in a fleeting moment of illusion. This deep emotional pain is further resonated as the singer requests solitude to better fantasize about the lost love, endure his suffering, and mourn his dashed hopes. The unapologetic rejection (“No”) from the loved one dramatically alters his life’s path, highlighting the devastating impact of doomed love.



Symbolism of Una pena

The lyrics of “Una pena” are rich with symbolism. The “sangrante mordedura” (bleeding bite) metaphorically represents the lasting, painful impact of a broken heart. The eyes of the first love, repeatedly described with “sweet witchcraft,” symbolize an almost magical, irresistible allure, which deeply enchanted the narrator. The reference to the woman as a “Fresquito ramo de hermosura y gracia” (cool bunch of beauty and grace) suggests her appealing exterior, which hides her fickle and cold nature—much like flowers that appear beautiful but may mask thorns that can cause injury. This juxtaposition of beauty and hidden danger underscores the disillusionment and betrayal felt by the narrator.



Una pena in historic Context

Recorded in 1938, “Una pena” emerges from a period in Argentina known for its political instability and cultural vibrancy. The late 1930s were characterized by significant social changes and a flourishing of the arts, particularly in Buenos Aires where tango music often expressed the sentiments of the common people. The tango’s exploration of themes like unrequited love, disillusionment, and personal anguish mirrors the uncertainties and emotional trials faced during such tumultuous times. In this period, Tango was not just a dance but a narrative medium that conveyed deep emotional and societal narratives.



Arturo Albert

Arturo Albert was a lyricist known for his evocative tangos that often delved into themes of love, loss, and melancholy, remaining poignant reflections of human emotions and experiences.