It's always inspiring when a woman has the courage to speak her truth. Here's an unforgettable example, in the form of the tango "Maula." It was first recorded by songbird Rosita Quiroga on March 17, 1927, and as an instrumental by Julio De Caro's orchestra four days later. It's had several reprises over the years, including this emotionally raw performance by Diana Durán with Enrique Mora's quartet. Tango Decoder's English version and notes are below, followed by the original, en castellano.
Maula* (1927)
Composer: Adolfo Mondina
Lyrics: Víctor Soliño
English version Copyright © 2013 by Tango Decoder
Don’t even set foot in the room*
because I can't stand to see you;
Can't you see that I'm ashamed to be your wife?*
I want, just so you know,
To have at my side always
A man who's bold and brave,
not a maula, a coward, like you.
A man who can bet his life
if it comes to that
on a single card
Without blinking an eye.
A man who'd be a man
Who'd stand up for himself
And not cry coward
Just like a woman.
Maula! Who, faced with an insult, kept quiet
Maula! Who, the coward, backed down
Maula! Whose idea of bravery is
When you're out drinking
You mix it up with some woman.
The gang at the club*
Drunk on Pernod*
They dragged my name on the floor
My name that's the same as yours!
And you, coward, from a table
Witnessed this outrage,
Lowered your head,
And didn’t say a word.
Seeing you wimp out like that
--such a big, tough guy!--
I swear on my mother's grave
I pity you!
Don't come back to the room
Because my heart is set on a real man,
And you're barely even male.
NOTES
*Maula: (Lunfardo) A lazy, ineffectual person, a coward, a bum.
*room: Cotorro (Ar. slang), a modest apartment occupied by a single person or a couple without children. A place used for amorous meetings. A small, single room.
*...ashamed to be your wife: hasta vergüenza me da ser tu mujer. Mujer can mean woman or wife. I originally translated this as "...ashamed to be your woman." Given the subsequent line, "...my name that's the same as yours," I think it should be wife. (revised Feb. 12, 2014)
*club: boliche, an illegal gambling den.
*Pernod: Absinthe, a type of spirit known for its high alcohol content and reputed toxicity.
Maula* (1927)
Música: Adolfo Mondina
Letras: Víctor Soliño
No pises el cotorro
que no te puedo ver.
No ves que hasta vergüenza
me da ser tu mujer.
Yo quiero, pa' que sepas
tener siempre a mi lado
a un hombre bien templado,
no a un maula como vos.
A un hombre que se juegue,
si llega la ocasión,
la vida en una carta,
sin sentir emoción.
A un hombre que sea hombre
y sepa responder
y no llore cobarde,
igual que una mujer.
Maula! que ante el insulto callaste.
Maula! que cobarde te achicaste.
Maula! que sólo te creés valiente
cuando una noche de farra
te ves enfrente de una mujer.
La barra del boliche
borracha de Pernod
mi nombre que es el tuyo
por el suelo arrastró
y vos que de una mesa
oíste aquella infamia
bajaste la cabeza,
cobarde, sin chistar.
Al verte tan compadre,
con tu aire de matón,
te juro por mi madre
te tengo compasión.
No vuelvas al cotorro,
porque mi corazón,
se ha hecho para un hombre
y vos no sos varón.
Pretty Fantastic !! Thanks
Posted by: contact | 01/20/2014 at 07:51 AM