DANDY: Upward mobility for a low-life

"Dandy, that’s what they call you now, those who didn’t know you when you were a vagabond.... Because now you pass for a spoiled rich kid and they think you’re some kind of big shot! I know better, dandy, I know you’re broke...."

DANDY (Dandy)
Music: Lucio Demare
Lyrics: Augustín Irustia / Roberto Fugazot

[Cafe Dandy, Buenos Aires. Photo: Tango Decoder]

Dandy, ahora te llaman los que no te conocieron cuando entonces eras terrán, porque pasás por niño bien y ahora te creen que sos un gran bacán; mas yo sé, dandy, que sos un seco, y en el barrio se comentan fulerías, para tu mal... Cuando sepan que sos confidente, tus amigos del café te piantarán. Has nacido en una cuna de malevos, calaveras, de vivillos y otras yerbas... Sin embargo, ¡quién diria!, en el circo de la vida siempre fuistes un chabón. Entre la gente del hampa no has tenido performance, pero dicen los pipiolos que se ha corrido la bolilla y han junado que sos un gran batidor... Dandy, en vez de darte tanto corte pensá un poco en tu viejita y en su dolor. Tu pobre hermana en el taller su vida entrega con entero amor y por las noches su almita enferma, con la de su madrecita en una sola sufriendo están... Pero un dia, cuando nieve en tu cabeza, a tu hermana y a tu vieja llorarás.

Dandy, that’s what they call you now those who didn’t know you when you were a vagabond,* because now you pass for a spoiled rich kid and they think you’re some kind of bigshot; I know better, dandy, I know you’re broke,* and in the barrio they say nasty things about you. When your friends from the cafe find out you’re a squealer, they’ll give you the slip. You were born in a cradle of hoodlums, players, hustlers and other weeds... Nevertheless, who can say? in the circus of life you were always a bit of a clown.* Among the underworld types you haven’t had a performance, but a little bird has told them that a rumor has gone around* and they’ve guessed that you’re a big informer... Dandy, instead of strutting around, just think of your mother and of her pain. Your poor sister in the sweatshop she gives it all she's got and by night her little heart sickens with that of her dear mother; they're suffering as one.... But one day when it snows on your head you’ll cry for mother and your sister.

* vagabond: terrán. "Vesre" slang, the Spanish word atorrante (vagabond, lazy, idle, slothful).

* broke: seco, lit. "dry." (Lunfardo).

* clown: chabán. Lit. a twit or a fool.

* a rumor has gone around: se ha corrido la bolilla. The expression, correrse la bolilla, "to roll the marble," means to spread gossip or rumors.