I am sure every tango dancer has seen pictures and videos of Carlos Gardel, but I do not think that there is widely shared knowledge about this man. Fortunately, I have never heard a DJ say something like, “This evening shall reach its climax as soon as my carefully prepared Gardel tanda starts” or an elegant tanguera ”It is only when I dance to Carlos Gardel and his fan-tastic guitars, that I reach tango heaven”…

This is something all of us should be grateful for, because you just don’t dance to this kind of dominant classic tango singers. Further worsened by the inability of many people to understand Spanish, that means talented men like Carlos Gardel, Ignacio Corsini and Agustin Magaldi do not get a lot of attention nowadays.

However, they have created countless great songs that may help us understand tango culture much better. I have got to begin somewhere, and the following typical Gardel tango is one that has been covered many times. The fine language used here can serve as an introduction to a lot of tango poetry and that is why I am surprised I am (supposedly) the first person to translate Confesión. For me the content of this classic poem is Tango 101.

—

—

Confession (Enrique Santos Discepolo)

I lost your love and
it was a conscious decision,
just to save you!
Now, you hate me and I am happy,
withdrawing myself from the world
to bewail you.
The memories you will have of me
shall be horrible,
you will always see me beating you,
like a villain.
If you only knew
how generous it was of me
to pay like that for your good love…

Sunshine of my life!
I was a complete failure
and while falling I tried to
push you aside, because
I loved you so much… so much,
that, while tumbling, I could only
save you by making you hate me.
Recently, after a dreadful year,
I saw you passing by.
I bit myself so that I could not call you.
You were pretty as a picture
and men would stop just to stare at you!
I am not sure if he who has now got you (as a girlfriend)
deserves something like this.
All I know is that the cruel misery I caused you
is justified by the sight of
you, like a queen.
Live a better life,
far away from me!

Sunshine of my life!
I was a complete failure
and while falling I tried to
push you aside, because
I loved you so much… so much,
that, while tumbling, I could only
save you by making you hate me.