Song commentary
&
lyric translation
The story of Porteño y bailarín
Picture a milonguero from the Golden Age, dressed to impressed: suit, hat, tie, shining shoes… Then, imagine the countless sleepless nights he spends dancing until the small hours, the sleepless nights he spends absorbed in ‘milonguear’ (touring milongas), as one says in Buenos Aires.
Now try to empathise with him as he realises that what he took for a love embrace, merely was a tango embrace.
With its numerous references to themes commonly found in tango songs, Porteño y bailarín is as poetic, romantic and bittersweet as its hero. ‘Casita melancólica’ is an allusion to a small rundown house from one of the poor suburbs that surround Buenos Aires, the ‘arrabales’, another frequent tango theme. Its melancholy aspect comes from its being beyond reclaim. ‘Mis cuerdas’, which literally translates as ‘my cords’ is an implicit reference to guitar strings, which often appear as protagonists in tango songs, in folklore songs and poems.
Di Sarli composed Porteño y bailarín in 1945, at the height of his career.
Porteño y bailarín has been translated by Tanguito, Argentine Tango Academy in London. We hope you enjoy this translation. If you have any comments, don’t hesitate to drop us a line.
Old school milongueros say it’s easier to fully interpret a tango song when you know the lyrics. So, we have translated and commented over 35 of the most beautiful and famous tango songs. Browse our translations and enjoy the stronger connexion with the music.
And if you are tempted to join us, why not try our Argentine tango classes in London or browse our library of online classes?
The song
Porteño y bailarín lyrics
in Spanish & English
Porteño y bailarínPorteño y bailarín, me hiciste tango, como soy: |
A porteño and a dancerA porteño(1) and a dancer, you made me, tango, the way I am: |
| Qué importa el sueño, que a mis pupilas roban, las mentidas horas de bailar sin calma. ¡Qué importa el miedo de dar la vida! Si encontrara el beso, que me pide el alma. Hoy sé que fueron tangos, amor y copas, golondrinas locas, en mi corazón. |
What does it matter the sleep stolen by the deceptive hours of dancing without resting. What does it matter the fear of giving our life! If I had found the kiss, that my soul demands. Today I know these are no more, tangos, love and drinks, crazy swallows, in my heart. |
| Porteño y bailarín, resuena tango… que en tu voz hoy vivo un novelón. Su aliento vuelve a mi como esa noche que abracé, su tierno corazón… Melancólica casita de cristal y azul, si a preguntar vuelve una vez, en tu criolla ventanita transformada en cruz, decile cuánto la lloré. Una guitarra, un bordonear, sueños y cantar… ¡Todo se llevó! Porteño y bailarín, me hiciste tango, como soy, romántico y dulzón… |
A porteño and a dancer, resound tango… so that in your voice, today I live an epic novel. Her breath comes back to me just as it was on that night when I held her tender heart… Melancholic little house of crystal and blue, if she ever comes back to ask, at your small traditional window now turned into a cross, tell her how much I cried for her. A guitar, playing strings, dreams and singing… Everything is gone! A porteño and a dancer, you made me, tango, the way I am: romantic and sweet… |
(1) Porteño: an inhabitant of Buenos Aires. The word comes from ‘puerto’, ‘port’ and means ‘people from the port’. From the 19th century until the middle of the 20th century, the port of Buenos Aires was a major commercial hub and employment centre and played an important role in the economic activity of the city and the country.
(2) Bandoneon: a small accordion.
