La Guerra de Gardel

They messed so much with Gardel
whether he was born in France or Tacuarembó
that between Argentina and Uruguay they will see
the terrible war that broke out.

They started by dynamiting and blowing up
every bridge over the Uruguay River
and they took blowing up bridges seriously:
they even dynamited the air bridge.

Argentina invaded Martín García Island
and Uruguay invaded the Malvinas
the English were laughing their asses off
and even the queen cracked a smile.

And on the radio they were already commenting
that The Beatles were from Pando
Sinatra from Tucumán
While this mess continued,
shedding brotherly blood
over just a tango.

In Uruguay a decree prohibited
being named Evita or Diego
and in Argentina no one could be called
Obdulio, Enzo Paco, or Johnatan.

The Uruguayans shouted 'olé olalá'
'San Martín eats it, Artigas gives it'
and the blondes from New York sang 'Gardel!
take a walk to the YMCA'.

In Uruguay they shot in front of a firing squad
those who spoke of 'idiot' and 'dude'
and in Argentina if you used mate and thermos often
you were surely disappeared.

And even the Pope was hit with the bundle
he prayed a mass in slang
and danced tango with the cross.
Until a book of dubious origin
made them aware
when their story came to light.

And that book told unfounded lies
that no one ever proved.
That they only knew him as the creole thrush
And instead Julio Sosa was 'the man' of tango
they also made up that he was tough
and ended up getting it in Medellín.

And they felt so much shame
that they couldn't bear it
to be compatriots of a traitor,
And they decided shaking hands
that Carlitos was Peruvian
we are brothers at heart.