“Caminito” is a tango song composed in 1926 by the Argentinians Juan de Dios Filiberto (music) and Gabino Coria Peñaloza (lyrics). It was initially recorded by Carlos Gardel but achieved success with an interpretation by Ignacio Corsini.
The lyrics of the song – predating the music – are inspired by the Caminito de Olta, in the province of La Rioja, part of an old rural path that led from the town to the nearby village of Loma Blanca. The music, on the other hand, is inspired by the “Caminito” of the La Boca neighborhood in Buenos Aires.
The street was renamed and redesigned as the current Caminito, for tourist purposes, in 1950. The lyrics of the tango actually refer to a rural road in the town of Olta, in the current General Belgrano department, in the province of La Rioja. It is considered the third most famous tango in the world, after La Cumparsita and El Choclo. It has been interpreted by artists of various styles and countries, with a notable version performed by The Three Tenors: Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras, and Plácido Domingo.
The lyrics of the tango were written in 1903, 23 years before the song was composed, by Gabino Coria Peñaloza (1881-1975), a native of San Luis who resided in the town of Chilecito, La Rioja.
The Lyrics of “Caminito”
Caminito que el tiempo ha borrado
Que juntos un día nos viste pasar
He venido por última vez
He venido a contarte mi mal
Caminito que entonces estabas
Bordeado de trébol y juncos en flor
Una sombra ya pronto serás
Una sombra lo mismo que yo
Desde que se fue
Triste vivo yo
Caminito, amigo
Yo también me voy
Desde que se fue
Nunca más volvió
Seguiré sus pasos
Caminito, adiós
Caminito que todas las tardes
Feliz recorría cantando mi amor
No le digas si vuelve a pasar
Que mi llanto tu suelo regó
Caminito cubierto de cardos
La mano del tiempo su huella borró
Yo a tu lado quisiera caer
Y que el tiempo nos mate a los dos
Desde que se fue
Triste vivo yo
Caminito, amigo
Yo también me voy
Desde que se fue
Nunca más volvió
Seguiré sus pasos
Caminito, adiós
Caminito, erased by time That one day saw us pass by together I have come for the last time I have come to tell you my sorrow
Caminito, back then you were Lined with clover and blooming rushes Soon you’ll be but a shadow A shadow just like me
Since she left I’ve lived in sadness Caminito, my friend I too am leaving Since she left She never returned I’ll follow in her footsteps
Caminito, farewell Caminito, every afternoon I happily walked, singing my love Don’t tell her if she passes by again That my tears watered your ground
Caminito, covered in thorns The hand of time has erased its mark I wish to fall by your side And let time take us both Since she left I’ve lived in sadness
Caminito, my friend I too am leaving Since she left She never returned I’ll follow in her footsteps Caminito, farewell
