“The arrabal” is a word of Arabic origin that means “outside the walls,” identifying the dwellings and businesses established without urban planning, usually associated with the humblest class.
During the Middle Ages, the territory was surrounded by walls, but as space began to run out, new constructions were built outside those walls, leading to the construction of new walls, and the suburbs ended up forming “neighborhoods.” Today’s arrabal is what we usually call shantytowns or suburbs, making a clear distinction from urban developments.
In tango, the arrabal is a place that holds great sentiment; it is not abandoned, betrayed, and certainly not forgotten. The arrabal is the opposite of the center and undoubtedly has always been a great inspiration for composers, a great manifestation of passions and experiences that are well defined in the lyrics of the tango “Melodía de Arrabal” written by Alfredo Le Pera and Mario Battistela, to which Carlos Gardel contributed the music in 1932.
Melodia de Arrabal: the lyrics
Barrio
Plateado por la luna
Rumores de milonga
Es toda su fortuna
Hay un fueye que rezonga
En la cortada mistonga
Mientras que una pebeta
Linda como una flor
Espera coqueta
Bajo la quieta luz de un farol
Barrio, barrio
Que tenés el alma inquieta
De un gorrión sentimental
Penas ruego
Esto todo el barrio malevo
Melodía de arrabal
Viejo, barrio
Perdoná si al evocarte
Se me pianta un lagrimón
Que al rodar en tu empedrao
Es un beso prolongao
Que te da mi corazón
Cuna de tauras y cantores
De broncas y entreveros
De todos mis amores
En tus muros con mi acero
Yo grabé nombres que quiero
Rosa, la milonguita
Era rubia Margot
En la primer cita
La paica Rita me dio su amor
Barrio, barrio
Que tenés el alma inquieta
De un gorrión sentimental
Penas ruego
Esto todo el barrio malevo
Melodía de arrabal
Viejo, barrio
Perdoná si al evocarte
Se me pianta un lagrimón
Que al rodar en tu empedrao
Es un beso prolongao
Que te da mi corazón
Fuente: LyricFind
Compositores: Alfredo Le Pera / Batistella M / Carlos Gardel
Neighborhood Silvered by the moon Whispers of a milonga It’s all its fortune There’s a bandoneón that groans In the mixed-up alley
While a girl Beautiful like a flower Waits flirtatiously Under the quiet light of a streetlamp
Neighborhood, neighborhood With a restless soul Of a sentimental sparrow I pray for sorrows That’s the whole tough neighborhood Melody of the suburb
Old neighborhood Forgive me if when I evoke you A tear escapes me That, rolling on your cobblestones Is an extended kiss That my heart gives you
Cradle of tough guys and singers Of conflicts and showdowns Of all my loves
On your walls with my steel I engraved names I love
Rosa, the little milonga dancer Was blonde Margot On the first date Paica Rita gave me her love
Neighborhood, neighborhood With a restless soul Of a sentimental sparrow I pray for sorrows That’s the whole tough neighborhood Melody of the suburb
Old neighborhood Forgive me if when I evoke you A tear escapes me That, rolling on your cobblestones Is an extended kiss That my heart gives you
Author: Alfredo Le Pera / Batistella M / Carlos Gardel
