In Strangers' Arms

Tango lyrics are everywhere in Buenos Aires: Malena

This is tango Malena’s poetry on a wall in barrio San Telmo. (1942. Music: Lucio Demare. Lyrics: Homero Manzi), the tango porteños love and know by heart.

This tango puts an end to the “Milonguita” theme (a favorite through the 20s, and 30s ). “Milonguita” does not express herself, we do not hear her voice; it is always the man who talks about her.  Malena has her own voice.

“Malena sings tango like no one else,
and in every line puts a heart of her own.
Her voice has the scent of grass in the suburb,
Malena has the blues of the bandoneón.”

(For the entire translated lyrics by Jake Spatz, see In Strangers’ Arms, “Malena: The portrait of a colossus” pp 177-181).
For the historical role of women in tango lyrics, see Chapter 9: “Milonguita: A Thread of the Tango Epic.” pp 164- 185.
(Copyright (c) 2013 Beatriz Dujovne)

Tags: Poetry