Lara's first musical composition was "Marucha," written in honour of one of his first loves. In 1927 he already was working in cabarets. He subsequently moved to Puebla, but returned to the capital in 1929. That same year he started working for the tenor Juan Arvizu as composer and accompanist. In September 1930, he began a successful radio career. At the same time he acted and composed songs for such films as Santa (1931).
In 1933 Lara's first tour in Cuba was a failure because of political turmoil on the island. Later, more successful tours in South America, as well as such new compositions as "Solamente Una Vez" (composed in Buenos Aires and dedicated to José Mujica), "Veracruz", "Tropicana", and "Pecadora" increased his fame. Lara was also known for his love affairs with various women, among them María Félix, who became one of his many wives, and to whom he dedicated his most famous compositions, such as "María Bonita", "Aquel Amor" and "Noche de Ronda." He wrote more than 700 songs.
By the beginning of the 1940s, Lara was well-known in Spain. In 1965, the Spanish Caudillo Francisco Franco gave him a beautiful house in Granada in appreciation of his songs with Spanish themes, such as "Toledo", "Granada", "Seville", and "Madrid". He received additional honors and decorations from around the world.
It is said that Lara never learned musical notation.
In 1968 Lara's health began to decline rapidly; an accident that fractured his pelvis further aggravated his condition. On November 6, 1970, the musician-poet died. He was buried in the Rotonda de los Hombres Ilustres of the Panteón de Dolores in Mexico City.
Nowadays, in the port of Veracruz, there is a nostalgic place for El Flaco de Oro’s followers: La Casita Blanca ("The Little White House"). From this museum and bohemian corner, the ocean waves can be heard, and the romantic sense of the Veracruzans is evident. Younger and older generations express their emotion while singing "Piensa en mí" ("Think about me") in homage to one who always loved his country.
Agustín Lara sang for his cousin Edward Lara's wedding to Graciela Chabolla Garcia (who then became Graciela Chabolla de Lara) in Mexico City in 1964.
He is survived and celebrated by his extensive family. The Lara family and its musical roots now extend from southern and central Mexico to California. (His cousin Francisco Lara (+), Trinidad Lara (+) nephew Armando Lara Sr,(Coroba Veracruz) (+) niece Arminda Paula Lara DeHoyos (Laredo TX), Adolfo Lara (+), Gelacio Lara (+), Roberto Lara, Herminia Lara, Zenon Lara, Socorro Lara, Antonio Lara, Lesvia Lara, Victor Lara( (NL MEX) Manuel Lara, Edward Lara, Rocio Lara, Eduardo Alejandro Lara, Gerardo Lara) and Wisconsin (Edward Manuel Lara and his wife Mary Lou Lara) in the U.S.
Arrancame la Vida
Agustín Lara Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
de duro cierzo invernal,
llegan hasta el cuarto mío
las quejas del arrabal.
en esta noche de frío,
de duro cierzo invernal,
llegan hasta el cuarto mío
Arráncame La Vida
con el último beso de amor,
arráncala,
toma mi corazón.
Arráncame La Vida
y si acaso te hiere un dolor
ha de ser de no verme
porque al fin tus ojos
me los llevo yo.
la canción que pedías
te la vengo a cantar,
la llevaba en el alma
la llevaba escondida
y te la voy a brindar.
Arráncame La Vida
con el último beso de amor,
arráncala
toma mi corazón.
Arráncame La Vida
y si acaso te hiere un dolor,
ha de ser de no verme
porque al fin tus ojos
me los llevo yo.
La melodía de esta letra es ritmo de tango.
es de los conocidos "tangos mexicanos" pues fue escrita por nuestro gran FLACO DE ORO, don Agustín Lara. Músico y poeta de talla internacional, orgullosamente jarocho y mexicano.
The opening lines of Agustin Lara's song Arrancame la Vida set a somber and melancholic tone, describing a night of bitter winter winds and the sounds of mournful lamentations coming from the "arrabal" or the outskirts of town. The singer entreats their lover to "arrancame la vida" or "tear out my life" with one final kiss of love and take their heart with them. The lyrics suggest a deep longing for a love that is ending or has already ended, and a desire for release from the pain of heartbreak. The singer offers up a song that they had been hiding and brings it as a gift to their beloved. The song ends with a sense of acceptance and resignation that their lover will always carry a part of them, even if they are no longer together.
Line by Line Meaning
En esta noche de frío, de duro cierzo invernal, llegan hasta el cuarto mío las quejas del arrabal.
On this cold winter night, the complaints of the outskirts reach my room.
Arráncame La Vida con el último beso de amor, arráncala, toma mi corazón.
Take my life with your last kiss of love, take it, take my heart.
Arráncame La Vida y si acaso te hiere un dolor ha de ser de no verme porque al fin tus ojos me los llevo yo.
If it hurts you, it will be because you can no longer see me, for I will take your eyes with me.
La canción que pedías te la vengo a cantar, la llevaba en el alma la llevaba escondida y te la voy a brindar.
I come to sing you the song you asked for, the one I kept hidden in my soul, and now I give it to you.
La melodía de esta letra es ritmo de tango. es de los conocidos 'tangos mexicanos' pues fue escrita por nuestro gran FLACO DE ORO, don Agustín Lara. Músico y poeta de talla internacional, orgullosamente jarocho y mexicano.
The melody of this song follows the rhythm of tango. It is one of the well-known 'Mexican tangos' written by our great 'Flaco de Oro' - Agustín Lara, a musician and poet of international reputation, proudly from Veracruz and Mexican.
Contributed by Brayden D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.