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December 20, 2010

Mi bandoneon y yo - Ruben Juarez

I'm working on an article about the amazing Ruben Juarez, whose performances taught and still teach me a lot about tango.

For now, I'll just lead off with this song that embodies him so well.

PS - Corrections are welcome about my translation of the lyrics, following the jump.

Mi bandoneón y yo
Música: Rubén Juárez
Letra: Julio Martín

My bandoneón and I
Music: Rubén Juárez
Lyrics: Julio Martín

A veces se me hace que nació conmigo
y durmió en mi cuna pegao a mis pies.
Que fue mi juguete y mi perro de pibe
y toda la infancia la corrí con él.

Que anduvimos juntos, atorro y milonga,
desde mi bohemia, cigarro y café.
Y a veces rodamos maneaos por el suelo
y nos levantamos con la misma fe.

Mi bandoneón y yo crecimos juntos,
emparentaos, tal vez, por la pobreza...
Muchas veces reímos de alegría
y otras veces, lloramos de tristeza.

Yo le hablo de hombre a fueye, mano a mano.
Lo mismo que si hablara con la vieja.
Y cuando él me responde, se me antoja
que Buenos Aires mismo me contesta.

Sí, hermano, como siempre
... con vos hasta que muera...

Si yo a mi bandoneón lo llevo puesto
como un cacho de tango entre las venas.
Y está de Dios que al dar mi último aliento,
moriremos a un tiempo... mi bandoneón y yo.

At times it seems that he was born with me,
and slept in my crib glued to my feet.
That he was my toy, and my childhood dog,
and all my youth I ran with him.

That we went together, sleeping and milonga,
from my bohemia, cigar and coffee.
And at times we rolled rough-housing on the ground,
And we picked ourselves up with the same faith.

My bandoneón and I, we grew together,
Connected, it may be, by poverty....
Many times we laughed with joy,
And other times we cried in sorrow.

I speak to him, man to bellows, as equals.
The same as if speaking with my mother.
And when he replies,
It seems to me that Buenos Aires itself answers.

Yes, brother, like always....
With you until death...

Yes, I wear my bandoneón
like a piece of tango in my veins.
And it is up to God when I give him my last breath,
We die at the same time ... my bandoneón and I.

Posted by joegrohens at 01:38 PM | Comments (0)