Tango Lyrics in Spanish and English

LA CASITA DE MIS VIEJOS
My parents' little home (1931)
Lyrics by: Enrique Cadicamo Music by: Juan Carlos Cobian


Translated by: Alberto Paz Return to Table of Contents
Last update on: 5/26/08
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Nena





JORGE VIDAL with Hector Artola

Enrique Cadicamo wrote in his book "The Unknown Juan Carlos Cobian" that when he sent these verses to Cobian, the great pianist believed that  in the lyrics there were certain passages of his own life. Cobian had returned to his parents' home in Bahia Blanca, after 23 years because of a busy schedule traveling to perform in Europe. His reunion with his father was quite emotive. Cadicamo denied that and attributed to mere coincidence.

CASTELLANO ENGLISH
Barrio tranquilo de mi ayer,
como un triste atardecer,
a tu esquina vuelvo viejo...
Vuelvo más viejo,
la vida me ha cambiado...
en mi cabeza un poco de plata
me ha dejado.
Yo fui viajero del dolor
y en mi andar de soñador
comprendí mi mal de vida,
y cada beso lo borré con una copa,
en un juego de ilusión
repartí mi corazón.

Vuelvo vencido a la casita de mis viejos,
cada cosa es un recuerdo que se agita en mi memoria,
mis veinte abriles me llevaron lejos...
locuras juveniles, la falta de consejo.
Hay en la casa un hondo y cruel silencio huraño,
y al golpear, como un extraño,
me recibe el viejo criado...
Habré cambiado totalmente, que el anciano por la voz
tan sólo me reconoció.

Pobre viejita la encontré
enfermita; yo le hablé
y me miró con unos ojos...
Con esos ojos
nublados por el llanto
como diciéndome porqué tardaste tanto...
Ya nunca más he de partir
y a tu lado he de sentir
el calor de un gran cariño...
Sólo una madre nos perdona en esta vida,
es la única verdad,
es mentira lo demás.
Calm neighborhood from my past,
like a sad sunset,
I return, old, to your street corner...
I return older,
life has changed me...
On my head a little silver
it has painted.
I was a traveler of pain
and in my dreamer's wandering
I understood my life's malady,
and every kiss, I erased with a drink
in a game of illusion
I dealt my heart.

I come back beaten to my parents' little home
everything is a remembranza that is turning in my memory,
I went away when I was twenty...
Youthful madness, lacking advice.
There is a deep and cruel sullen silence,
and when I knock on the door, like a stranger
I'm greeted by the old servant me..
I must have changed completely, that only by my voice the old man
he recognized me.

Poor old mother, I found her
very sick; I spoke to her
and she looked at me with those eyes...
With those eyes
clouded by her crying
as if saying "why did you take so long?"
I will never leave again
and at your side I will feel
the warmth of a great love...
Only a mother forgives us in this life,
it's the only truth,
all else is a lie.

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