Mano a mano,
Rechiflao en mi tristeza hoy te evoco y veo que has sido
en mi pobre vida paria solo una buena mujer;
tu presencia de bacana puso calor en mi nido,
fuiste buena, consecuente, y yo se que me has querido
como no quisiste a nadie, como no podras querer.
Se dio el juego de remanye, cuando vos, pobre percanta,
gambeteabas la pobreza en la casa de pension;
hoy sos toda una bacana,la vida te rie y canta,
los morlacos del otario los tiras a la marchanta
como juega el gato maula con el misero raton.
Hoy tenes el mate lleno de infelices ilusiones,
te engrupieron los otarios, las amigas, el gavion;
la milonga entre magnates con sus locas tentaciones
donde triunfan y claudican milongueras pretensiones
se te ha entrado muy adentro en el pobre corazon.
Nada debo agradecerte, mano a mano hemos quedado,
no me importa lo que has hecho, lo que haces, ni lo que haras
los favores recibido creo habertelos pagado
y si alguna deuda chica sin querer se me ha olvidado,
en la cuenta del otario si queres se la cargas.
Mientras tanto que tus triunfos, pobres triunfos pasajeros,
sean una larga fila de riquezas y placer;
que el bacan que te acamala tenga pesos duraderos,
y te abras en las paradas con cafishios milonqueros,
y que digan los muchachos: "Es una buena mujer."
Y mañana cuando seas descolado mueble viejo
Y no tengas esperanzas en tu pobre corazon;
si precisas una ayuda, si te hace falta un consejo,
acordate de este amigo que ha de jugarse el pellejo
p'ayudarte en lo que pueda, cuando sea la ocasion.
Paroles, Celedonio Flores - Musique, Carlos Gardel et Jose Razzano, 1920.
We're even,
Totally daft in my sadness today I reminisce and realize that you'e been
in my poor orphan life nothing but a good woman;
your well-to-do lady's presence warmed up my nest,
you were good, honorable, and I know that you loved me
like you didn't love anybody, like you'll never be able to.
There was a time when you, a poor girl
dodged poverty in a boarding house;
now you're quite a wealthy lady, life smiles and sings at you,
the fool's fortune you squander everywhere
the way the trickster cat plays with the wretched mouse
Today your head is filled with wretched illusions
you were conned by the fools, by your girlfriends, and by the libertine;
the milonga among tycoons, with its crazy temptations
where dance pretenses suceed and fail,
has entered deep inside your poor heart.
There is nothing to thank you for, even steven we have ended,
I don't care what you've done, what you do, or what you'll do
all the favors I received, I think I have already paid you for
and if there is a small debt which unwillingly I have forgotten,
in the fool's account, please charge it if you want.
Meanwhile, may your triumphs, sad temporary triumphs,
be a long line of richness and pleasure.
May the rich concubine who supports you, have long lasting dough
and may you show off your vanity among pimping milongueros
and may the guys say, "She is a good woman."
And tomorrow when you become a rebuffed old object
and you no longer have hope in your poor heart
if you need some help, if you can use some advice,
remember me as a friend who is going to risk his skin
to help you in any way, when the time comes for that.
traduction Alberto Paz, ici.
