Anyone else catch the irony in this lyric? Dude has been out partying for two decades and finally he realizes that the saintly little woman who has loved him all these years is worthy of his attention. But instead of running to her, getting down on his knees, and begging for her forgiveness, he asks some other dude to "tell her to come back; that's the only way I will be able to redeem myself of my bad deeds...." It's all about him, isn't it? And then he says, "Bring her to me, brother, because now I understand how stupid I was." No, brother, I don't think you do! Otherwise you would go and get her yourself! La Uruguayita nailed this guy in one word: mojigato.
Video of the Tanturi/Castillo rendition follows the castellano text.
Tango Decoder English-language version Copyright © 2014 by Michael Krugman.
Decile que vuelva (Tell her to come back)
Tango
Music: Miguel Bucino
Lyric: Miguel Bucino
Only now do I realize how good,
how saintly that woman is.
Poor little woman who loved me anyway,
despite the debauchery of my wild days.
Tell her, my friend, that I’m holding bouquets
of kisses purer than words can tell,
to plant on her beautiful eyes,
Weeping by her side with happiness and pleasure.
Tell her to come back; that’s the only way
I’ll be able to redeem myself of my bad deeds.
With the sweet kiss she plants on my forehead,
I’ll know she has granted me her long-awaited pardon.
Tell her to come back, to forget the past,
My bitter, shameful, wicked past.
Tell her to come back; bring her to me, brother,
Because now I understand how stupid I was.
Along with the bitterness of remorse
I hold the terrible secret of my bad deeds,
Of those loves now scattered to the wind
Not a trace remains in my heart.
The last twenty years were nothing but praises,
They all lied to me and I lied back;
I abandoned your love for tall drinks,
And the false luxury of wild parties.
****
Recién me doy cuenta de todo lo bueno,
de todo lo santo de aquella mujer.
¡Pobre mujercita que, en el desenfreno
de mis días locos, dejé de querer!
Decile, che hermano, que guardo manojos
de besos tan puros que no va a querer,
para deshojarlos en sus lindos ojos
llorando a su lado de dicha y placer.
Decile que vuelva; así, solamente,
podré redimirme de mi mala acción.
Con un beso bueno que ponga en mi frente,
sabré si me otorga su ansiado perdón.
Decile que vuelva, que olvide el pasado,
mi pasado amargo, bochornoso y ruin.
Decile que vuelva; traémela, hermano,
que ahora comprendo lo tonto que fui.
Junto a la amargura del remordimiento
guardo el entripado de mi mala acción,
aquellos amores se los llevó el viento
y ni rastros quedan en el corazón.
Mis veinte años fueron colmados de halagos,
me mintieron mucho y también mentí;
dejé su cariño entre grandes tragos,
en el lujo falso del loco festín.
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