ARRABAL: A tarnished gem of tango poetry

"Port-city slums, on your open patios the stars come out, bathing you in silence. And the yellow moon sows mysteries, walking tiptoe over your rooftops."

I see no evidence that this sweetly nostalgic Homero Manzi lyric (with milonga melody by Felíx Lipesker) was ever recorded. More's the pity, because it is in my opinion a exceptionally beautiful example of tango poetry in general, and Manzi's work in particular. Even so, I find it wholly satisfying to read as poetry, free of direct musical associations. 

Update 25-09-2014: Friend and colleague Paul Bottomer has informed me that Arrabal was recorded by Julio De Caro with vocal by Héctor Farrell on 07-10-1939. You can listen below. (The file is 64 kbps, for educational purposes only.) Farrell did not sing the last two stanzas; they are marked with brackets.

Arrabal

 

Arrabales porteños De casitas rosadas, Donde acuna los sueños El rasguear de las guitarras. Donde asoma la higuera Sobre las tapias, Adornando los muros Con sus fantasmas. Sombra, Telón azul del suburbio Donde se juega el disturbio Cuando un amor se envenena. Y el dolor de la traición Se hace rencor Rencor y pena. Sombra, Donde los labios se juran, Mientras la noche murmura Con su voz de bandoneón. [Arrabales porteños En tus patios abiertos, Las estrellas se asoman Y te bañan de silencio. Y la luna amarilla Siembra misterios, Caminando en puntillas Sobre tus techos.]

Port-city slums  of low pink houses where the strumming of guitars rocks you to sleep. Where a fig tree   overhangs the garden walls,  adorning them   with its fantasms. Shadow, blue curtain of the neighborhood  where a riot might break out when a love affair goes sour,  and the pain of betrayal  produces resentment, resentment and sorrow. Shadow, where lips curse and vow  while the night murmurs in its bandoneón voice. Port-city slums, on your open patios the stars come out,  bathing you in silence. And the yellow moon sows mysteries,  walking tiptoe over your rooftops.