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Volver

Volver is a Tango written by Carlos Gardel and recorded by Anibal Troilo in 1970. Anibal Troilo has recorded Volver as an instrumental Tango.
“Volver,” translated to English as “To Return,” encapsulates the poignant essence of longing and nostalgia. It speaks to the heart’s deep yearning to revisit moments and places that once held immense meaning. This tango tells the timeless story of reliving memories, where echoes of the past resonate with both the sweetness and sorrow of what once was.

Tango

Style

Anibal Troilo

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Alfredo Le Pera

Author

Carlos Gardel

Composer

1970/8/13

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Anibal Troilo
Anibal Troilo

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Volver recorded by other Orchestras

Volver recorded by other Orchestras

Letra del Tango Volver

Yo adivino el parpadeo

de las luces que a lo lejos,

van marcando mi retorno.

Son las mismas que alumbraron,

con sus pálidos reflejos,

hondas horas de dolor.

Y aunque no quise el regreso,

siempre se vuelve al primer amor.

La quieta calle donde el eco dijo:

‘Tuya es su vida, tuyo es su querer’,

bajo el burlón mirar de las estrellas

que con indiferencia hoy me ven volver.



Volver,

con la frente marchita,

las nieves del tiempo

platearon mi sien.

Sentir, que es un soplo la vida,

que veinte años no es nada,

que febril la mirada

errante en las sombras

te busca y te nombra.

Vivir,

con el alma aferrada

a un dulce recuerdo,

que lloro otra vez.



Tengo miedo del encuentro

con el pasado que vuelve

a enfrentarse con mi vida.

Tengo miedo de las noches

que, pobladas de recuerdos,

encadenen mi soñar.

Pero el viajero que huye,

tarde o temprano detiene su andar.

Y aunque el olvido que todo destruye,

haya matado mi vieja ilusión,

guarda escondida una esperanza humilde,

que es toda la fortuna de mi corazón.

English lyrics of the Tango "Volver"

I can sense the flicker

of the lights in the distance,

marking my return.

They’re the same ones that shone,

with their pale reflections,

deep hours of pain.

And though I didn’t want to come back,

one always returns to their first love.

The quiet street where the echo said:

“Her life is yours, her love is too”,

under the mocking gaze of the stars

that now indifferently watch me return.

To return,

with a withered brow,

the snows of time

have silvered my temples.

To feel, that life is a breath,

that twenty years are nothing,

that feverish, the gaze

wandering in the shadows

seeks and names you.

To live,

with the soul clinging

to a sweet memory,

that I weep for once more.

I’m afraid of the encounter

with the past that returns

to face my life.

I’m afraid of nights

filled with memories,

that chain my dreams.

But the traveler who flees,

sooner or later stops their stride.

And even though the oblivion that destroys everything

has killed my old illusion,

it keeps hidden a humble hope,

which is all the fortune of my heart.

Volver by Alfredo Le Pera

Volver is a Tango written by Alfredo Le Pera and composed by Carlos Gardel.



Story behind the Tango Volver

The Tango “Volver” captures a poignant narrative of return and reflection. The lyrics eloquently express a person’s ambivalent feelings about coming back to places and memories associated with past love and pain. The protagonist foresees the “twinkling of lights” that mark the path to a former life, underscoring the inevitability of returning to one’s origins and first loves despite the pain associated with them.



Symbolism of Volver

The imagery in “Volver” is rich with symbolism. Phrases like “con la frente marchita,” which translates to “with a withered brow,” symbolize the aging and the wear of time, while “las nieves del tiempo” (the snows of time) suggest that his experiences have left a permanent, visible mark. The anthem also encompasses the theme of life’s brevity, emphasizing that “veinte años no es nada” (twenty years is nothing), highlighting the fleeting nature of time. Furthermore, the recurring theme of light — “las luces que a lo lejos” (the lights in the distance) — serves as beacons guiding the return but also illuminating moments of deep personal pain.



Volver in historic Context

“Volver” is set against the backdrop of Argentina in the late 20th century, a period marked by social and political upheaval. This historical context adds a layer of depth to the lyric’s reflection on the past, as personal history intertwines with a larger national narrative. The fateful return to the point of origin may also mirror the societal longing for a nostalgia of a seemingly simpler past or the recovery from political and social strife.



Alfredo Le Pera

Alfredo Le Pera was an Argentine lyricist and journalist, best known for his collaborations with the famed tango composer and singer Carlos Gardel.