Mano a mano
Gardel Carlos Lyrics


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Rechiflao en mi tristeza, hoy te evoco y veo que has sido
en mi pobre vida paria sólo una buena mujer;
tu presencia de bacana puso calor en mi nido,
fuiste buena, consecuente y yo sé que me has querido
como no quisiste a nadie, como no podrás querer.

Se dio el juego de remanye cuando vos, pobre percanta,
gambeteabas la pobreza en la casa de pensión;
hoy sos toda una bacana, la vida te ríe y canta,
los morlacos del otario los tirás a la marchanta
como juega el gato maula con el mísero ratón.

Hoy tenés el mate lleno de infelices ilusiones;
te engrupieron los otarios, los amigos, el gavión;
la milonga entre magnates con sus locas tentaciones
donde triunfan y claudican milongueras pretensiones
se te ha entrado muy adentro en el pobre corazón.

Nada debo agradecerte, mano a mano hemos quedado,
no me importa lo que has hecho, lo que hacés ni lo que harás;
los favores recibidos creo habértelos pagado
y si alguna deuda chica sin querer se me ha olvidado
en la cuenta del otario que tenés se la cargás.

Mientras tanto que tus triunfos, pobres triunfos pasajeros,
sean una larga fila de riquezas y placer;
que el bacán que te acamala tenga pesos duraderos
que te abrás en las paradas con cafishios milongueros,
y que digan los muchachos: .Es una buena mujer..

Y mañana, cuando seas descolado mueble viejo
y no tengas esperanzas en el pobre corazón,
si precisás una ayuda, si te hace falta un consejo,




acordate de este amigo que ha de jugarse el pellejo
p.ayudarte en lo que pueda cuando llegue la ocasión.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gardel Carlos's song "Mano a mano" depict a bitter and wistful perspective on a past relationship. The opening verse reveals the singer's sadness and how he recalls the woman he once loved. She was the only good woman in his poor and deprived life. Her presence brought warmth to his life. She was consistent and loving in her affections toward him. No one else had or would ever love him as she had.


The second verse criticizes the woman for "gambeteabas la pobreza" (dodging poverty) and for now having become a wealthy woman. She has given up old friends and has become a materialistic person, often at the expense of others. The singer is skeptical of her so-called successes and the false hopes and illusions that her new life is giving her. The obsession with money and social status have corrupted her, and he hopes she recognizes it soon.


The third verse evokes a sense of finality and detachment, as the singer declares that he owes her nothing after everything has been said and done. He does not care about her deeds or her future, having moved on from their past relationship. If he has any debts left unseen and forgotten, the singer hopes that she will make the burden lighter for the "otario" (sucker) who is now enamored by her. The final lines illustrate an understanding that her fate is sealed, and that she might end up alone, without love or companionship, and will need him again.


Line by Line Meaning

Rechiflao en mi tristeza, hoy te evoco y veo que has sido
I am filled with sadness and I think of you today, realizing that you have been in my lowly, downtrodden life as the only good woman; you were faithful and had a benevolent presence that brought warmth to my home. You loved me like no one else has, and like no one else ever will.


En mi pobre vida paria sólo una buena mujer;
In my meager existence, only one woman was kind and caring to me.


tu presencia de bacana puso calor en mi nido,
Your elegant presence brought warmth and comfort to my humble abode.


fuiste buena, consecuente y yo sé que me has querido
You were a good, faithful partner and I know you loved me deeply.


como no quisiste a nadie, como no podrás querer.
You loved me unlike anyone else, and no one else will ever love me the way you did.


Se dio el juego de remanye cuando vos, pobre percanta,
You were poor and struggling when you played the game of life,


gambeteabas la pobreza en la casa de pensión;
dodging poverty while living in a cheap boarding house.


hoy sos toda una bacana, la vida te ríe y canta,
Now you live in luxury and enjoy the good life,


los morlacos del otario los tirás a la marchanta
taking advantage of unsuspecting suitors, like a cat playing with a mouse.


como juega el gato maula con el mísero ratón.


Hoy tenés el mate lleno de infelices ilusiones;
Now you have a life filled with fleeting illusions and false hope;


te engrupieron los otarios, los amigos, el gavión;
naive suitors, friends, and tricksters have deceived you;


la milonga entre magnates con sus locas tentaciones
the high life of the rich and powerful has tempted you,


donde triunfan y claudican milongueras pretensiones
where dancers with lofty goals can both succeed and fail.


se te ha entrado muy adentro en el pobre corazón.
All these things have deeply affected your poor heart.


Nada debo agradecerte, mano a mano hemos quedado,
I owe you nothing, we are even;


no me importa lo que has hecho, lo que hacés ni lo que harás;
I don't care what you have done, what you are doing, or what you will do;


los favores recibidos creo habértelos pagado
I believe I have already repaid any favors you have done for me;


y si alguna deuda chica sin querer se me ha olvidado
If I have forgotten to repay any small debts,


en la cuenta del otario que tenés se la cargás.
I'll just add it to the long list of debts owed by the unsuspecting suitors you have duped.


Mientras tanto que tus triunfos, pobres triunfos pasajeros,
In the meantime, your shallow, fleeting triumphs


sean una larga fila de riquezas y placer;
may include a long line of wealth and luxury;


que el bacán que te acamala tenga pesos duraderos
may the rich man who keeps you have lasting wealth,


que te abrás en las paradas con cafishios milongueros,
may you continue to dance with other men of questionable character,


y que digan los muchachos: “Es una buena mujer”..
and may they all say, 'She is a good woman.'


Y mañana, cuando seas descolado mueble viejo
And when you are old and forgotten tomorrow,


y no tengas esperanzas en el pobre corazón,
without hope in your poor heart,


si precisás una ayuda, si te hace falta un consejo,
if you need help or advice,


acordate de este amigo que ha de jugarse el pellejo
remember this friend who will risk everything to help you,


p.ayudarte en lo que pueda cuando llegue la ocasión.
when the occasion arises and you need it.




Lyrics © Tratore, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CARLOS GARDEL, ESTEBAN FLORES, JOSE RAZZANO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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