Tango Translations

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ASI SE BAILA EL TANGO (This is how the tango is danced)Lyrics: E. RandallMusic: Marvil

Que saben los pitucos, What do the youngsters know,lamidos y soshetas, with their spitted hair and elegance,que saben lo que es tango, what do they know what the tango isque saben de compas. what do they know about the beat.Aqui esta la elegancia, Here is the elegance,que pinta, que silueta, what a look, what a silhouette,que porte, que arrogancia, what a posture, what an arrogance,que clase pa’bailar. what a class to dance.

Asi se baila el tango, This is how the tango is danced,mientras dibujo el ocho, as I draw the ’ocho’,para estos filigranas, filigrees for them,yo soy como un pintor. I am like a painter.Ahora una corrida, Now I do a ’corrida’ (several quick steps),una vuelta, una sentada. a ’vuelta’ (turn), a sentada (she sits on his lap),Asi se baila el tango, This is how the tango is danced,un tango de mi flor. a tango of my flower.

Asi se baila el tango, This is how the tango is danced,sintiendo la cara, feeling the cheek,la sangre que sube a cada compas, the blood that raises in each beat,mientras el brazo, while the arm,como una serpiente, like a serpent,se enrosca en el talle, coils around the waist,que se va a quebrar. that is about to break.

Asi se baila el tango, This is how the tango is danced,mezclando el aliento, Mixing the breath,cerrando los ojos closing our eyespara oir mejor, to listen better,como los violines le dicen al fuelle, how the violins tell to the bellows (bandoneon?),porque desde esta noche, because since tonight,Malena no canto. I won’t sing Malena anymore.

Asi se baila el tango, This is how the tango is danced,mientras dibujo el ocho, as I draw the ’ocho’,para estos filigranas, filigrees for them,yo soy como un pintor. I am like a painter.Ahora una corrida, Now I do a ’corrida’ (several quick steps),una vuelta, una sentada. a ’vuelta’ (turn), a sentada (she sits on his lap).Asi se baila el tango, This is how the tango is danced,un tango de mi flor. a tango of my flower.

Filigree: ornamental openwork of delicate or intricate design. Used metaphorically meaning (as I understand)that a simple ’ocho’ by the expert tango dancer looks as a very intricate footwork for the youngsters.