The highly cinematic lyrics of the 1944 tango “Llueve otra vez” dramatize the interior space of romantic regret, while using the weather poetically for atmosphere, metaphor, and musical texture. The song’s author Juan José Guichandut wrote only a few lyrics but a number of tango melodies; his first hit “Perfume de mujer” (Ladies’ Perfume) won him the lasting friendship of Carlos Gardel. His other songwriting credits include “Marioneta,” “Sencillo y compadre,” “Yo,” “Domingo a la noche,” “Tarareando,” “Canta pajarito,” “Así era el tango,” and many others.
Edit: The lyrics are actually by Oscar Rubens, whose name was omitted in some sources. (Rubens and Guichandut also cowrote the tangos “Canta pajarito” and “Tarareando.”)
Rain Falls Once Again
(Tr. Jake Spatz)
YouTube: Carlos Di Sarli with Alberto Podestá
Listen… how, my heart,
The echo… of her sigh…
Listen how, my heart, the rainy weather
Goes weaving back together
Remembrance of her love.
A pity… how, my heart!
It’s not her... it’s not her sigh.
It’s only this obsession that enslaves me,
The memory that flays me
Over her goodbye.
Rain falls…
And the whips of light go lashing,
A crazy fever’s lightning flashing.
This rain, that will not pass
Goes drumming at the glass,
And dredging up a lost emotion.
And in the fog I seem to see… her standing,
The same as back then, to say goodbye.
Rain falls…
And the sky was swarming shadows,
The same as in this heart of mine.
The sorrows… that left behind
The echo… of her voice.
The sorrows of awaiting all in vain
And believing in the rain
To bring her back again.
Stop waiting now, my heart!
Stop pining over her love!
Tomorrow when the shining sun appears
Other loves will dry your tears,
And you’ll move on.
Llueve otra vez (1944)
Music: Juan José Guichandut
Lyrics: Oscar Rubens
Escucha corazón
el eco de su voz…
Escucha, corazón, está lloviendo
y la lluvia va tejiendo
los recuerdos de su amor.
¡Qué pena, corazón!
No es ella, ni es su voz.
Tan sólo es la obsesión que me domina,
el recuerdo que castiga
desde su adiós.
Llueve…
y un látigo de luz me azota,
relámpago de fiebre loca.
La lluvia, sin cesar,
golpeando en el cristal,
renueva la emoción perdida.
Y entre la bruma creo ver su imagen,
igual que entonces, diciendo adiós.
Llueve…
y el cielo se llenó de sombras,
lo mismo que mi corazón.
Tristeza que dejó
el eco de su voz.
Tristeza de esperar inútilmente
y creer que nuevamente
con la lluvia volverá.
¡No esperes, corazón!
¡No penes por su amor!
Mañana cuando el sol radiante asome
al calor de otros amores,
olvidarás.