Tal vez será su voz

Homero Manzi's 'Tal vez será su voz' is a poignant tango that delves into themes of loss, memory, and the haunting presence of a past love. The song opens with the evocative imagery of a piano playing in a dimly lit room, setting a melancholic tone. The shadows that gather in the room are not just physical but also metaphorical, representing the memories of women like Griseta, Malena, and María Ester, who are emblematic figures in tango lore. These shadows compel the narrator to recall his own lost love, whose memory is as vivid and painful as the music itself.

The lyrics are rich with emotional depth, as the narrator dances with the ghost of his past, symbolized by the 'brillo de su traje de satén' (the shine of her satin dress). The violin's sorrowful notes and the sentimental voice that seems to sob are metaphors for the narrator's own heartache. The refrain, 'Tal vez será su voz, tal vez,' captures the uncertainty and longing that permeate the song. The narrator grapples with the possibility that the voice he hears is not his lost love's but his own heart crying out in pain.

The song also paints a vivid picture of the lost love, describing her as 'triste, pálida y lejana' (sad, pale, and distant) with 'negro el pelo, los ojos verde gris' (black hair, green-gray eyes). This detailed description adds to the sense of loss and the depth of the narrator's sorrow. The final verses reveal that the woman never returned, and the narrator was left to learn of her tragic end from others. This revelation deepens the sense of futility and despair, as he is left to remember her 'vanamente' (in vain) with each tango he hears.