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LYRICS
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translated by Jake Spatz

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Muchacho (1924)     My fellow
 
Music: Luis N. Visca
Lyrics: Celedonio Flores
Rec. by Angel D'Agostino
with Angel Vargas
  Tr. Jake Spatz
Recited 11 July 07, Divino Lounge
 
Muchacho,
que por que la suerte quiso,
vivis en un primer piso
de un palacete central,
que para vicios y placeres,
para farras y mujeres
dispones de un capital.
Muchacho,
que no sabes el encanto
de haber derramado llanto
sobre un pecho de mujer,
que no sabes que es secarse
en una timba y armarse
para volverse a meter.

My fellow,
who because the luck was yours,
live on the penthouse floor
of a high-rise in the heart of town,
who for vices and recreations,
for women and grand occasions
lay half a trust-fund down—
My fellow,
who's never known the rush
of having wept and gushed
against a woman's skin,
who don't know what it means to run dry
at a gambling hall, and outside,
resolve to go back in—

Que decis que un tango rante
no te hace perder la calma,
y que no te llora el alma
cuando gime un bandoneon;
que si tenes sentimiento
lo tenes adormecido
pues todo lo has conseguido
pagando como un chabon.

Who claim that a randy tango
never makes you lose your cool,
that there isn't a sob in your soul
when a bandoneon cries hard,
that whatever feelings you have
you have but half-asleep,
since all the success you've reaped
you've paid for, dope that you are.

Decime
si en tu vida pelandruna
bajo la luz de la luna
o si no bajo un farol,
vos te has sentido poeta
y le has dicho a una pebeta
que era más linda que el sol.
Decime
si conoces la armonia,
la dulce policromia
de las tardes de arrabal,
cuando van las fabriqueras
tentadoras y diqueras
bajo el sonoro percal.

Tell me
if in your life of a rich poltroon
you've ever stood under the moon
or even a streetlight, once,
and felt like a poet within
and said to a girl that her grin
was prettier than the sun's.
Tell me
if the harmony ever hits home,
if you know the sweet polychrome
of the evening across the tracks,
when the factory girls walk by
and cast you a tempting eye,
skirts rustling as they pass.



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