Translation of the song Mano a mano artist Carlos Gardel
Mano a mano
We are even
Rechiflado en mi tristeza hoy te evoco
Lost in my sorrow, today I evoke you
Y veo que has sido
And I can see you have been,
En mi pobre vida paria
In my poor, miserable life,
Solo una buena mujer
Nothing but a good woman
Tu presencia de bacana
Your hot-shot airs
Puso calor en mi nido
Brought warmth to my nest
Fuiste buena, consecuente
You were kind, acted according to your principles
Y yo sé que me has querido
And I know you have loved me
Como no quisiste a nadie
As you never loved anyone else
Como no podrás querer.
As you will never be able to love again
Se dio el juego de remanye
The appreciation game started
Cuando vos, pobre percanta
As you, poor lovely woman
Gambeteabas la pobreza en la casa de pensión
Dodged poverty at the boarding house
Hoy sos toda una bacana
Today you are a real big-shot
La vida te ríe y canta
Life smiles and sings for you
Los morlacos del otario
You waste the money
Los tirás a la marchanta
Of those you easily fooled
Como juega el gato maula
Just like a knavish cat would play
Con el mísero ratón
With a wretched mouse
Hoy tenés el mate lleno de infelices ilusiones,
Today you have your mind full of unhappy illusions
Te engrupieron los otarios, las amigas, el gavión;
Fools, friends and seducers have deceived you
La milonga entre magnates
The dance of magnates
con sus locas tentaciones
With its crazy temptations,
Donde triunfan y claudican
Where social climber pretensions
milongueras pretensiones
Are realised and surrendered
Se te ha entrado muy adentro en el pobre corazón
Has settled deep inside your poor heart
Nada debo agradecerte
There's nothing I should thank you for
Mano a mano hemos quedado
We are even now
No me importa lo que has hecho
I don't care about what you've done
Lo que haces, ni lo que harás
What you do now, or what you will do
Los favores recibido
I believe I have repaid all the favours
Creo habértelos pagado
I received from you
Y si alguna deuda chica sin querer se me ha olvidado
But in case I unintentionally forgot some minor debt
En la cuenta del otario
If you wish, charge it
Si querés, se la cargas
To one of those fools' account
Mientras tanto que tus triunfos
I hope that your achievements,
Pobres triunfos pasajeros,
Poor, fleeting achievements,
Sean una larga fila de riquezas y placer
Will become a long line of wealth and pleasure
Que el bacan que te acámala
I hope the big-shot who now maintains you
Tenga pesos duraderos,
Has deep pockets
Y te abras de las paradas con cafishios milongueros
I hope you forsake your association with hustlers
Y que digan los muchachos: Es una buena mujer
And that other men will say She's a good woman
Y mañana cuando seas descolado mueble viejo
And tomorrow, when you become decayed, old furniture
Y no tengas esperanzas en tu pobre corazón;
And you have no hope left in your poor heart
Si precisas una ayuda, si te hace falta un consejo,
If you need a little help, if you would like advice
Acordate de este amigo que ha de jugarse el pellejo
Remember this friend, who will put his life on the line
Pa' ayudarte en lo que pueda, cuando llegue la ocasión.
To help you in whichever way he can, when the time comes