Translation of the song Melodía de arrabal artist Carlos Gardel
Melodía de arrabal
Melody of the Slum
Barrio plateado por la luna,
Neighborhood silver-plated by the moon
Rumores de milonga
milonga1 rumors
Es toda tu fortuna.
is all your fortune.
Hay un fuelle que rezonga
There's a bandoneon2 weeping
En la cortada mistonga,
in the absolute misery
Mientras que una pebeta
while a girl
Linda como una flor,
pretty as a flower
Espera coqueta
is waiting coquettish
Bajo la inquieta luz de un farol.
under the unquiet light of a street lamp
Barrio... barrio...
Neighborhood, neighborhood
Que tenés el alma inquieta
you have the unquiet soul
De un gorrión sentimental.
of a sentimental sparrow.
Penas... ruegos...
Sorrows, prayers
Es todo el barrio malevo
all over the nasty neighborhood
Melodía de arrabal.
(it's the) melody of the slum
Viejo... barrio...
Old neighborhood
Perdoná si al evocarte
forgive me if I'm letting a tear drop
Se me pianta un lagrimón,
whenever I recall you
Que al rodar en tu empedrao
which, by rolling down on your cobblestone alleys
Es un beso prolongao
is a lingering kiss
Que te da mi corazón.
my heart is giving you.
Cuna de tauras y cantores
Cradle of braves and singers
De broncas y entreveros
of fights and riots
De todos mis amores;
of all my loves;
En tus muros con mi acero
on your walls with my blade
Yo grabé nombres que quiero:
I carve names that I love:
Rosa, la milonguita...
Rosa, the milonga girl3...
Era rubia Margot...
there was blonde Margot...
En la primera cita
on our first date
La paica Rita
that wench Rita
Me dio su amor.
gave me her love.
Barrio... barrio...
Neighborhood, neighborhood
Que tenés el alma inquieta
that you have the unquiet soul
De un gorrión sentimental.
of a sentimental sparrow.
Penas... ruegos...
Sorrows, prayers
Es todo el barrio malevo
all over the nasty neighborhood
Melodía de arrabal.
(it's the) melody of the slum
Viejo... barrio...
Old neighborhood
Perdoná si al evocarte
forgive me if I'm shedding a tear
Se me pianta un lagrimón,
whenever I recall you
Que al rodar en tu empedrao
which, by rolling down on your cobblestone alleys
Es un beso prolongao
is a lingering kiss
Que te da mi corazón.
my heart is giving you.