A Homero (To Homero)
Music: Aníbal Troilo
Lyrics: Cátulo Castillo
Translation: Felipe & Ayano
Recorded by Aníbal Troilo with Roberto Goyeneche in 1961
Español
Fueron años de cercos y glicinas,
de la vida en orsay, del tiempo loco.
Tu frente triste de pensar la vida
tiraba madrugadas por los ojos…
Y estaba el terraplén con todo el cielo,
la esquina del zanjón, la casa azul.
Todo se fue trepando su misterio
por los repechos de tu barrio sur.
Vamos, vení de nuevo a las doce…
Vamos que está esperando Barquina*.
Vamos... ¿No ves que Pepe* esta noche,
no ves que el viejo esta noche
no va a faltar a la cita?...
Vamos...
Total al fin nada es cierto
y estás, hermano, despierto
juntito a Discepolín*...
(Instrumental)
Ya punteaba la muerte su milonga,
tu voz calló el adiós que nos dolía;
de tanto andar sobrándole a las cosas
prendido en un final, falló la vida.
Yo sé que no vendrás pero, aunque cursi,
te esperará lo mismo el paredón*,
y el tres y dos* de la parada inútil
y el fraternal rincón de nuestro amor…
Vamos, vení de nuevo a las doce…
Vamos que está esperando Barquina*.
Vamos... ¿No ves que Pepe esta noche,
no ves que el viejo esta noche
no va a faltar a la cita?...
Vamos...
Total al fin nada es cierto
y estás, hermano, despierto
juntito a Discepolín*...
English
They were years of fences and wisteria,
life in “off side”, crazy time.
Your forehead, sad from thinking life,
spilled sunrises through the eyes...
And there was the embankment with all the sky,
the corner with the ditch, the blue house.
Everything went climbing its mystery
up the slopes of your South neighborhood.
Let’s go, come again at twelve...
Let’s go since Barquina* is waiting.
Let’s go… Don’t you see that tonight Pepe*,
don’t you see that tonight the old man
won’t miss the date?...
Let’s go...
After all, nothing is certain
and you are, brother, awake
next to Discepolin*...
(Instrumental)
Death was plucking its milonga,
your voice silenced the goodbye that hurt us;
exceeding so much on all things
in a tight end, life failed.
I know you won’t come but, even when corny,
the big wall will wait for you anyway,
and the “three & two” of the useless bet
and the brotherly corner of our love...
Let’s go, come again at twelve...
Let’s go since Barquina* is waiting.
Let’s go… Don’t you see that tonight Pepe*,
don’t you see that tonight the old man
won’t miss the date?...
Let’s go...
After all, nothing is certain
and you are, brother, awake
next to Discepolin*...
Note
This tango is dedicated to poet Homero Manzi.
Barquina was nickname of Francisco Loiacono, a journalist and a good friend of Manzi and Troilo. He is the author of tango N.P. (No Placé) and Cantor De Mi Barrio.
Pepe is a nickname of José Razzano, composer and singer who sang as a duo with Carlos Gardel. He wrote Café de Los Angelitos with Cátulo Castillo. He was always among the group of friends hanging out in the cabaret.
Discepolín is a nickname of poet Enrique Santos Discépolo who was a good friend of Manzi. They both passed away in 1951.
Paredón is a word Manzi used in tango "Sur (South)" describing the big wall he used to walk by in the neighborhood where he grew up.
Tres Y Dos (Three & Two) is a term for gambling. 1) a way to bet on horse race 2) type of cardgame for gambling. Troilo composed a tango with the same name.