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.
Yo no merezco este castigo is a Tango written by Roberto Cassinelli and composed by Marcelino Hernández.
The lyrics of “Yo no merezco este castigo,” which translates in English to “I don’t deserve this punishment,” poignantly express a torment of unrequited love and the agony of emotional suffering. The narrator describes the pain of living as though dead because their love is not reciprocated. The profound emotion is encapsulated as the narrator speaks of kneeling before the beloved, asking for forgiveness with a passionate insanity, and even kissing the hand that punishes them. The dramatic imagery of this Tango captures the essence of deep emotional pain, intertwined with an unyielding devotion.
The tango uses stark symbolism to convey its emotions. Phrases such as “kneeling before your mouth” and “kiss the hand that strikes me” indicate a deep submission and a paradoxical relationship with pain and love. These images evoke a sense of dramatic suffering and self-sacrifice, characteristic of much of tango’s lyrical tradition, wherein love is often portrayed as a tormenting yet alluring force. Further, the repeated questioning in the lyrics highlights a torturous internal conflict, contrasting the logic of self-respect with irrational love.
The timeline of this song, recorded in 1965, places it firmly within an era where tango music often reflected societal and personal struggles. In post-war Argentina, tango was a medium that exposed raw human emotions ranging from despair to love. The recurring themes of love, betrayal, and forgiveness apparent in the lyrics echo widely felt sentiments of the time, portraying how individuals grapple with profound sentiments often leading to self-reflective torment.
Roberto Cassinelli, an Argentine lyricist, is known for his contributions to the genre of Tango, with a particular strength in expressing complex human emotions and relational dynamics.