El Acordeonista
Victor Manuel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Un remanso de paz a la esquina de la calle.
El ruido de los coches ahoga
Las indecisas notas de una nueva canción mientras él
Con los ojos en blanco,
Escayolados dedos trepan arriba y abajo.
Es un ser extraño para los niños
Que le miran al salir de la escuela.
Que coloca sus quince muñecas en la florida habitación.
Su canción es más clara al pulsar viejas notas
Que llenan de nostalgia el corazón de la srta. lola.
El sombrerero,
Tiene cubierto el fondo de calientes monedas;
Promesa,
De algún plato especial en la húmeda taberna al mediodía.
Cerrarán el balcón cansados de escucharle.
La última moneda cantará en el sombrero.
Vacilantes pasos calle abajo le llevarán a la taberna;
Traspasará la puerta; el camarero -que es cabestro resabiado-
Gritará: ¡marche un plato de arroz para el artista!
The song "El Acordeonista" by Víctor Manuel is about an old accordion player who comes to bring a moment of peace to the noisy corner of the street. The sound of the cars drowns out his indecisive notes of a new song, but he plays with his eyes closed and his fingers moving up and down. He is a strange figure to the children coming out of school, and even the girl who has put her fifteen dolls in the flowered room to bed finds his music filled with nostalgia. The lyrics describe the somber life of the accordionist, who earns his living by playing the accordion on the street, and his loneliness is highlighted by the way people look at him with curiosity and fascination.
The song also depicts the power of music as a means of finding solace and happiness. The accordionist's music provides comfort to Miss Lola, who finds solace in his melodies, and the somber level of the song depicting the joy his music brings to the sombrero maker, who gives him money so that he can eat a plate of rice in the tavern. The song ends with the accordionist heading to the tavern, where he finds his small compensation, but at least gets some solace in the form of music, which gives him a temporary escape from the harsh realities of his life. Overall, the song is a poignant comment on the state of social inequality that exists in many societies and the importance of music in the lives of the oppressed.
Line by Line Meaning
El viejo acordeonista ha venido a traer
An old accordionist has come to bring
Un remanso de paz a la esquina de la calle.
A haven of peace to the street corner.
El ruido de los coches ahoga
The noise of the cars drowns out
Las indecisas notas de una nueva canción mientras él
The uncertain notes of a new song while he
Con los ojos en blanco,
With his eyes rolled back,
Escayolados dedos trepan arriba y abajo.
Plastered fingers climb up and down.
Es un ser extraño para los niños
He is a strange being to the children
Que le miran al salir de la escuela.
Who watch him when they leave school.
También para la niña del segundo
Also for the little girl in second grade
Que coloca sus quince muñecas en la florida habitación.
Who places her fifteen dolls in the flowery room.
Su canción es más clara al pulsar viejas notas
His song is clearer when playing old notes
Que llenan de nostalgia el corazón de la srta. lola.
That fill Miss Lola's heart with nostalgia.
El sombrerero,
The hatter,
Tiene cubierto el fondo de calientes monedas;
Has the bottom covered in hot coins;
Promesa,
A promise,
De algún plato especial en la húmeda taberna al mediodía.
Of a special dish at the humid tavern at noon.
Cerrarán el balcón cansados de escucharle.
They will close the balcony tired of listening to him.
La última moneda cantará en el sombrero.
The last coin will sing in the hat.
Vacilantes pasos calle abajo le llevarán a la taberna;
Staggering steps down the street will take him to the tavern;
Traspasará la puerta; el camarero -que es cabestro resabiado-
He will go through the door; the waiter -who is a sullen mule-
Gritará: ¡marche un plato de arroz para el artista!
Will shout: 'bring a plate of rice for the artist!'
Contributed by Amelia E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.