Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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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.
Volver is a Tango written by Alfredo Le Pera and composed by Carlos Gardel.
The tango “Volver” articulates a deep sense of nostalgia and the inevitable pull to return to one’s origins and past loves. The lyrics poignantly reflect on the pain and melancholy of returning, intertwining personal loss and the passage of time with a landscape of familiar lights and streets that have witnessed the narrator’s earlier life. The central sentiment is encapsulated in the phrase, “Y aunque no quise el regreso, siempre se vuelve al primer amor,” which translates to “And although I did not want to return, one always returns to their first love.” This line underscores the unavoidable human condition of returning to foundational experiences, despite changes wrought by time and circumstance.
The title “Volver,” which means “to return” in English, holds significant weight in understanding the tango’s themes. Symbolically, it represents the inescapable return to the past or the roots that define an individual’s core. The phrasing “con la frente marchita,” translating to “with a withered brow,” symbolizes aging and the physical markers of life’s hardships. The metaphor “las nieves del tiempo platearon mi sien,” meaning “the snows of time have silvered my temples,” beautifully portrays aging as an accumulation of wisdom and life experiences, akin to the gradual layering of snow. Furthermore, the notion of life as a mere breath and the haunting of memories at night reflects the ephemeral, transient nature of human existence.
The release of “Volver” in 1981 came during a period of significant cultural, social, and political shifts in Argentina. The song’s reflective and somber tone can be seen as a metaphor for the country’s collective introspection and longing for a return to better times amid the chaos of a nation grappling with its identity and future. This historical backdrop enhances the song’s emotional depth, situating personal heartache within broader societal struggles, arguably making it a resonant piece for many who faced similar disparities in their lives at the time.
Alfredo Le Pera was an Argentine lyricist and journalist, known for his fruitful collaboration with Carlos Gardel, which produced several classics of the tango genre.