El Choclo
Alberto Castillo
The Corn Cob
With this tango that is mocking and compadrito
The ambition of my suburb tied two wings
With this tango, tango was born, and like a shout
It came out of the sordid slum seeking the sky
Strange spell of a love turned into cadence
That opened paths with no law but hope
Mixture of rage, pain, faith, absence
Crying in the innocence of a playful rhythm
By your miracle of ominous notes
The paicas and grelas were born, without thinking
Moon of puddles, canyengue in the hips
And a fierce longing in the way of loving
Evoking you, beloved tango
I feel the tiles of a dance floor tremble
And I hear the grumble of my past
Today, with no mother by my side
I feel her arriving on tiptoe to kiss me
When your song is born to the sound of a bandoneon
Carancanfunfa set sail to the sea with your flag
And in a pernó mixed Paris with Puente Alsina
Sad compadre of the gavión and the mine
And even comadre of the dandy and the girl
For you, shusheta, cana, prisoner, and mischief
Voices were made when born with your destiny
Mass of skirts, kerosene, cut and knife
That burned in the tenements and burned in my heart