Tango Lyrics in Spanish and English
 

MANO A MANO

Even steven (1920) 

Music by: Carlos Gardel and Jose Razzano
Lyrics by: Celedonio Flores
Translated by: Alberto Paz

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Last Updated: 7/20/04

Version en castellano

English version

Rechiflao en mi tristeza hoy te evoco y veo que has sido
en mi pobre vida paria solo una buena mujer;
tu presencia de bacana puso calor en mi nido,
fuiste buena, consecuente, y yo se que me has querido
como no quisiste a nadie, como no podras querer.

Se dio el juego de remanye, cuando vos, pobre percanta,
gambeteabas la pobreza en la casa de pension;
hoy sos toda una bacana,la vida te rie y canta,
los morlacos del otario los tiras a la marchanta
como juega el gato maula con el misero raton.

Hoy tenes el mate lleno de infelices ilusiones,
te engrupieron los otarios, las amigas, el gavion;
la milonga entre magnates con sus locas tentaciones
donde triunfan y claudican milongueras pretensiones
se te ha entrado muy adentro en el pobre corazon.

Nada debo agradecerte, mano a mano hemos quedado,
no me importa lo que has hecho, lo que haces, ni lo que haras
los favores recibido creo habertelos pagado
y si alguna deuda chica sin querer se me ha olvidado,
en la cuenta del otario si queres se la cargas.

Mientras tanto que tus triunfos, pobres triunfos pasajeros,
sean una larga fila de riquezas y placer;
que el bacan que te acamala tenga pesos duraderos,
y te abras en las paradas con cafishios milonqueros,
y que digan los muchachos: "Es una buena mujer."

Y mañana cuando seas descolado mueble viejo
Y no tengas esperanzas en tu pobre corazon;
si precisas una ayuda, si te hace falta un consejo,
acordate de este amigo que ha de jugarse el pellejo
p'ayudarte en lo que pueda, cuando sea la ocasion.
Totally daft in my sadness today I reminisce and realize that you have been
in my poor orphan life nothing but a good woman;
your well-to-do lady's presence warmed up my nest,
you were good, honorable, and I know that you loved me
like you didn't love anybody, like you'll never be able to.

There was a time when you, a poor girl
dodged poverty in a boarding house;
now you are quite a wealthy lady, life smiles and sings at you,
the fool's fortune you squander everywhere
the way the trickster cat plays with the wretched mouse

Today your head is filled with wretched illusions
you were conned by the gullible, by your girlfriends, and by the libertine;
the milonga among tycoons, with its crazy temptations
where dance pretenses suceed and fail,
has entered deep inside your poor heart.

There is nothing to thank you for, even steven we have ended,
I don't care what you've done, what you do, or what you'll do
all the favors I received, I think I have already paid you for
and if there is a small debt which unwillingly I have forgotten,
in the fool's account, please charge it if you want.

Meanwhile, may your triumphs, sad temporary triumphs,
be a long line of richness and pleasure.
May the rich concubine who supports you, have long lasting dough
and may you show off  your vanity among pimping milongueros
and may the guys say, "She is a good woman."

And tomorrow when you become a rebuffed old object
and you no longer have hope in your poor heart
if you need some help, if you can use some advice,
remember me as a friend who is going to risk his skin
to help you in any way, when the time comes for that

TRIVIA:

"Mano a Mano" was the first song translated for what eventually became the Planet Tango Lyrics Page thus beginning a historic chapter in
tango development in some corners of the country. Although we can appreciate the translator's point of view as an academic translator, the original Spanish lyrics contain some mistakes, and the English translation doesn't do justice to the genial use of lunfardo expressions used by Celedonio Flores to describe the tribulations of a man consumed by a love which he only hopes to deliver when the object of his passion falls into hard times.

Translation by: Frank Sasson

Version en castellano

English version

Rechiflao en mi tristeza hoy te evoco y veo que has sido
en mi pobre vida paria solo una buena mujer;
tu presencia de bacana puso calor en mi nido,
fuiste buena, consecuente, y yo se' que me has querido
como no quisiste a nadie, como no podras querer.

Se dio el juego de remanye, cuando vos, pobre percanta,
gambeteabas la pobreza en la casa de pension;
hoy sos toda una bacana,la vida te rie y canta,
los morlacos del otario los tiras a la marchanta
como juega el gato maula con (Ed. missing "el") misero rato'n.

Hoy tene's el mate lleno de infelices ilusiones,
te engrupieron los otarios, las amigas, el gavio'n;
la milonga entre magnates con sus locas tentaciones
donde triunfan y claudican milongueras pretensiones
se te ha entrado muy adentro en el pobre corazon.

Nada debo agradecerte, mano a mano hemos quedado,
no me importa lo que has hecho, lo que haces, ni lo que haras
los favores recibido creo habertelos pagado
y si alguna deuda chica sin querer se me ha olvidado,
en la cuenta del otario si queres se la cargas.

Mientras tanto que tus triunfos
pobres triunfos pasajeros
sean una larga fila de riquezas y placer.
Que el bacan que te acamala tenga
Pesos duraderos y te abraze en las
paradas con capricias milonqueros
(Ed. the underlined phrase is derived pnonetically and it is incorrect )
pa' que digan los muchachos es una buena mujer.

Y mañana cuando seas
Descolado mueble viejo
Y no tengas esperanzas
en tu pobre corazon;
si precisas una ayuda,
si te hace falta un consejo,
acordata de este amigo
que ha de jugarse el pellejo
p'ayudarte en lo que pueda,
cuando sea la ocasion.

Re-crazy in my sadness today I evoke you and see you've been
In my poor miserable life you were a good woman;
Your presence of high class lady heated up my nest
You were good, and therefore I know that you've loved me
Like you didn't love anyone like you'll not be able to love.

The play of not waiting was on When you, poor woman
Cross-stepped poverty in the boarding house;
Now you're all of a high class lady, life laughs and sings at you 
The bread (money) of the otario you play with it carelessly
Like the alley cat plays with the miserable mouse

Today you have your head full of unhappy illusions
The otarios cheated you The girlfriends, the pimp
The milonga among magnates With their crazy temptations
Where pretensions of milongueras Succeed and are abandoned
Have gotten way inside Your poor heart

I don't owe you thanks Hand to hand we have remained
I don't care what you have done What you do, nor what you'll do
The favors that were received I believe I've paid them back
And if a small debt Without wanting to I have forgotten 
If you want you can charge it In the account of the otario

Meanwhile that your successes 
Poor passing successes
May they be a long line of wealth and pleasure 
That the guy that overwhelms you 
May he have lasting pesos and embrace you
With milongueros' whims
So the boys can say She's a good woman

And tomorrow when you are
Old and discardable furniture
And you don't have any hopes
In your poor heart, 
If you need some help 
If you're in need of an advice
Remember this friend 
That will play his skin off
To help you in what he can
When the occasion arises.