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Viejo malevo

Viejo malevo is a Tango written by Germán Teisseire and recorded by Osvaldo Fresedo in 1952. The Tango Viejo malevo is written by Germán Teisseire, Osvaldo Fresedo has recorded Viejo malevo with the singer Héctor Pacheco.
“Viejo Malevo,” translated as “Old Ruffian,” captures the essence of a hardened soul weathered by time and life’s relentless dance. The music, whether instrumental or sung, echoes stories of lost glory and streets once ruled with a formidable presence. Beneath the rugged exterior, there lurks a sense of nostalgia and the lingering echoes of something tender, now buried.

Tango

Style

Osvaldo Fresedo

Orchestra

Héctor Pacheco

Singer

Yaguarón

Author

Germán Teisseire

Composer

1952/11/21

Date

Héctor Pacheco
Héctor Pacheco
Osvaldo Fresedo
Osvaldo Fresedo

Discover Other Orchestras

Roberto Firpo – Curro en el oro – 1935/7/31
Roberto Firpo – El apronte – 1931/10/7
Roberto Firpo – Olvida corazón – 1927/10/20
Roberto Firpo – No llores más… No llores – 1929/6/12
Roberto Firpo – Vení maula – 1927/9/3
Francini-Pontier – Remolino – 1946/5/17
Francini-Pontier – Una historia como tantas – 1949/11/10
Francini-Pontier – La misma tarde – 1950/1/1
Francini-Pontier – Discepolín – 1951/5/11
Francini-Pontier – Oyeme – 1947/7/8
Alfredo Gobbi – Cuatro novios – 1954/6/22
Alfredo Gobbi – Si sos brujo – 1953/10/27
Alfredo Gobbi – Un regalo de Reyes – 1954/8/26
Alfredo Gobbi – Que nadie sepa mi sufrir – 1955/6/30
Alfredo Gobbi – Adiós corazón – 1958/4/17
Orquesta Típica Victor – De punta y hacha (2) – 1941/5/23
Orquesta Típica Victor – Yira yira – 1930/9/4
Orquesta Típica Victor – Chorra – 1928/6/15
Orquesta Típica Victor – De mi sentir – 1926/6/24
Orquesta Típica Victor – Cholita – 1926/1/19

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.

Viejo malevo recorded by other Orchestras

Viejo malevo recorded by other Orchestras

1952/11/21 – A todo trapo – Osvaldo Fresedo
1952/11/21 – Nostalgias – Osvaldo Fresedo
1952/11/24 – La cachila – Osvaldo Pugliese
1952/11/18 – Manos adoradas – Osvaldo Pugliese
1952/11/24 – La cachila – Osvaldo Pugliese
Viejo malevo – 1952/11/21 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Hector Pacheco
Viejo malevo – 1975/1/1 – Florindo Sassone – Rodolfo Lemos

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Viejo malevo

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

Letra del Tango Viejo malevo

Llorás malevo la pena,
que como abrojo se prendió en tu corazón.
De tu machaza pinta brava, nada queda,
y hoy, una sombra del pasado sólo sos.
Sufrís viviendo el recuerdo
de las mujeres que admiraron tu valor,
María Elena, Rosa, Elvira, Margarita,
y muchas otras que te amaban con pasión.

Los años, se han ido,
pasaron como cuentas de un rosario.
Te sentís vencido
y ese es tu calvario.
¡Echalo al olvido!
¡Qué maula que sos!
Tu fama, tu menta,
no han muerto y vivirán en la barriada,
donde en cada puerta
una enamorada,
cuatrerió en tus labios,
celosa de amor.

Las canas dan a tu frente
glorias nuevas de un vida más feliz,
y los purretes acarician dulcemente
el arabesco de tu vieja cicatriz.
Te brindan hoy los cantores
milongas criollas de guapeza y pasión,
y en el puntear de las bordonas, tus amores
tejen recuerdos de nostálgica emoción.

English lyrics of the Tango "Viejo malevo"

You cry, tough guy, for the sorrow,
that clung like a thistle to your heart.
Nothing of your bold demeanor remains,
and today, you’re just a shadow of the past.
You suffer, living in the memory
of the women who admired your courage,
María Elena, Rosa, Elvira, Margarita,
and many others who loved you passionately.

The years have gone,
passed like beads of a rosary.
You feel defeated,
and that is your ordeal.
Throw it to oblivion!
What a fool you are!
Your fame, your essence,
have not died and will live in the neighborhood,
where at every doorway
a lover has stolen,
jealous of love on your lips.

The gray hair on your forehead
brings new glories of a happier life,
and the kids gently caress
the arabesque of your old scar.
Today, the singers offer you
creole milongas of bravery and passion,
and in the strumming of the bass strings, your loves
weave memories of nostalgic emotion.

Viejo malevo by Yaguarón

Viejo malevo is a Tango written by Yaguarón and composed by Germán Teisseire.



Story behind the Tango Viejo malevo

The lyrics of “Viejo malevo” encapsulate the nostalgic reflections of an older man, once a proud and tough individual, now reflecting on his life’s past glories and lost loves. The term “malevo” refers to a man of rough character and bravery, often in the context of the traditional Argentine machismo. The narrator laments the transformation from a feared and respected figure into a mere shadow of his past, and through this, the tango explores themes of aging, regret, and the passage of time.



Symbolism of Viejo malevo

Yaguarón uses vivid imagery and symbols to enhance the emotional landscape of the song. Phrases like “llorás malevo la pena,” which translates to “you cry, tough man, the sorrow,” expose the depth of the character’s internal suffering. The mention of “abrojo,” a type of thorny plant, stuck in the heart symbolizes persistent and painful memories. Furthermore, “una sombra del pasado sólo sos,” or “you are only a shadow of the past,” underscores the theme of aging and the loss of former self.

The rosary and Calvary references provide a religious layer to the narrative, painting the protagonist’s journey as a spiritual trial. Women’s names in the verses personalize his reminisces, indicating deep, yet past, connections that continue to haunt him. Lastly, the poetic lines about his amorously adventurous past turning into a more serene acceptance of aging (“las canas dan a tu frente glorias nuevas”) contrast vividly, showing a man coming to terms with his life’s new reality.



Viejo malevo in historic Context

“Viejo malevo” was penned in Argentina in 1952, a period marked by political and social changes under the presidency of Juan Perón. This was a time when Argentine nationalism and identity were strongly promoted, and tango music often reflected deep emotional and cultural currents of the society. The song’s emphasis on personal history and nostalgia for a tumultuous yet vivid past could resonate with a broader societal feeling of transition and reflection on the national identity and individual roles within it. The Tango, with its roots deeply embedded in Argentine culture, serves as an ideal medium to explore such narratives.



Yaguarón

Yaguarón was an Argentine lyricist and composer known for his contributions to the Tango genre, capturing the essence of Argentine life and sentiment in his songs.