Known as "Pirincho" Canaro, he had a career that spanned many decades, and his orchestra was one of the most recorded. Much of his recorded music is in the classic salon style of the 1940s, but he is also considered a member of the old guard, and some of his later recordings contributed to the transition to concert tango. For many contemporary dancers and listeners, his early golden age recordings are the best.
Canaro composed the music for the 1915 Argentine classic, Nobleza gaucha.
A media luz
Francisco Canaro Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With nothing left to lose
Lie in the darkness, I'm slowly drowned to sleep
With nothing left to lose
Three tears I've saved for you
I'd retrace the steps that led me here
But nothing lives behind me
So I lie in this field bathed in the light that loves me
Three tears I've saved for you
Will you be my, be my beloved?
Will you help, help me to get through?
Will you be my, be my destruction?
Will you help, help me to be through?
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
Will you be my, be my beloved?
Will you help, help me to get through?
Will you be my, be my destruction?
Will you help? Three tears I've saved for you
The lyrics of A Media Luz by Francisco Canaro are not related to the original lyrics of the song. These appear to be lyrics written by another artist and added to Canaro's original melody. The lyrics depict a state of despair and resignation, with the persona lying in comfort amidst chaos because they have nothing left to lose. The persona has saved three tears for someone who is addressed as "you," indicating the need for someone to provide guidance and support in their life.
The persona asks this person to be their beloved and help them get through their struggles. They also ask them to be their destruction, indicating a willingness to let go of their current state and start anew with the help of this person. The repetition of the lines "will you be my, be my beloved?" and "will you help, help me to get through?" suggest a desperate need for someone to help the persona through their difficult situation.
Overall, the lyrics of this version of A Media Luz convey feelings of hopelessness and a need for someone to take charge and provide support. The repeated questioning of "will you be my...?" suggests a deep longing for someone to care for the persona and help them through their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Lie in the comfort of sweet calamity
I find comfort in my own misery and misfortune.
With nothing left to lose
I have lost everything and have nothing more to lose.
Lie in the darkness, I'm slowly drowned to sleep
I find myself drifting off to sleep in the darkness and despair.
Three tears I've saved for you
I have shed tears for you and saved them as a reminder of my pain.
I'd retrace the steps that led me here
I would go back and try to undo the things that brought me to this place.
But nothing lives behind me
There is nothing in my past that I can go back to or find comfort in.
So I lie in this field bathed in the light that loves me
I find solace in the light that shines upon me and gives me hope.
Will you be my, be my beloved?
Will you be the one to love me and give me comfort?
Will you help, help me to get through?
Will you aid me in my journey to overcome my pain?
Will you be my, be my destruction?
Will you be the one to destroy me and end my suffering?
Will you help? Three tears I've saved for you
Will you assist me? I have held onto my pain and tears for you.
Contributed by Micah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Alexander Zuyev
on Milonga brava (feat. Roberto Maida)
(Thanks to Jeremiah I discovered another meaning of this great song. Also, being a tango dancer myself I can see in the lyrics another dimension, another layer and a more literal meaning which I want to contribute. The more interpretations the lyrics can provide the greater it is.)
Yo soy la milonga brava
I am the fierce milonga, full of energy and passion.
Candombera y entradora.
I am a candombe-style milonga, seductive and captivating.
Yo soy la expresión sonora
I am the sound expression
Que el progreso deshilacha,
That my skills as a tango dancer as well as my looks are worn-out
Canción me hizo una muchacha
But the song has made me a young girl again
De boca fresca y golosa.
With fresh, luscious and lickerish mouth
Y me bailó en la baldosa
And that was actually me who danced on the roof tiles
Quebrada del conventillo,
Dropped down the roof of a tenement building
Con el mozo del altillo
With a dreamboat from an attic
A quien le dio el corazón.
To whom I gave my heart.