The tango lyrics page in Spanish with English translations was created by Alberto Paz for the purpose of preserving, nurturing, and advancing the education, understanding and love of this Argentine tango culture through the poetry of its verses. We are grateful to Alberto Paz for his valuable contribution.

The lyrics to “Melena”, is translated to help the Milonguero and Milonguera dance the emotions contained in the lyrics of the song. You can enjoy additional Spanish to English translations and infuse the emotional quality contained in the lyrics of the song into your dance -- an important element in addition to musicality and technique.

Malena sings the tango like no one else and in every single verse she pours her heart.
Like a slum weed her voice exude, Malena has the sadness of a bandoneon.
Perhaps, back in her childhood, her lark’s voice acquired that dark intonation of a back alley,
or maybe it is the romance she only names when she gets sad with the alcohol.
Malena sings the tango with a somber voice; Malena has the sadness of a bandoneon.
Your song has the cold of the last encounter, your song embitters itself with a salty remembrance.
I don’t know if your voice is the bloom of a sadness; all I know that in the muttering of your tangos, Malena, I sense you are better, much better than me.

Your eyes are dark like the oblivion,
your lips, pressed tight in a grimace of rancor 
your hands, two doves that suffer the cold,
your veins have blood of bandoneon.
Your tangos are forsaken creatures
that walk across the mud of a back alley,
when all the doors are locked
and the spirits of the song howl.
Malena sings the tango with a choking voice,
Malena has the sadness of a bandoneon.

I was like a rain of ashes and difficulties
in the resigned hours of your life... 
A drop of vinegar spilled,
fatally spilled over all your wounds.

You were, by my fault, a sparrow in the snow;
a rose withered by the cloud without rain.
We were the hope that does not reach, that is not enough,
that can't glimpse its tame afternoon

We were the traveller who doesn't beg, who doesn't pray
who doesn't cry, who laid down to die.

Go...!
Don't you understand that you are killing you..?
Don't you understand that I am calling you..?

Go..!
Don't kiss to me that I am crying for you
and I'd like not to cry for you anymore..!
You see...
It's better that my pain
be left laying down with your love,
freed of my final love.

Go..!
Don't you understand that you are saving you..?
Don't you understand that I am loving you..?
Don't follow me..! Or call me..! Or kiss me.!
Or cry for me.! Or love me any more..!

We were embraced to the anguish of an omen
through the night of a road without exits,
pale remains of a shipwreck
shaken by the waves of love and life.

We were pushed in a desolate wind ...
shades of a shade that returned from the past.
We were the hope that does not reach, that is not enough,
that can't glimpse its tame afternoon

We were the traveller who doesn't beg, who doesn't pray
who doesn't cry, who laid down to die.