Héctor Marcó had a magic touch for lyrics of romantic sentiment, and he often brought a refreshingly positive vision of love to the tango songbook. Such works almost defy the genre by breaking the conventions of the tango, except that they actually succeed so completely in their aims, keeping the early country innocence of “La morocha” relevant after the urban social chronicle of the 1920s and 30s. One such number is the tango “Nido gaucho,” which was a signature tune of Di Sarli’s orchestra for decades (the bandleader, who often collaborated with Marcó, wrote the music himself).
For an interesting side-note regarding this song, see below. For now, here is “Nido gaucho”!
Gaucho Nest
(Tr. Jake Spatz)
YouTube: Mario Pomar (orq. Carlos Di Sarli)
Resplendent in the hues of its hoping
All the country shows its plumage,
And the wind sends a trill through the roping
Of the grasses and the flowers.
I have my little ranch on the hilltop
Where the birdsong never dozes…
And the daisies, and the roses,
Are in bloom now just for you, *
Because someday my little gaucho nest shall
Be for two.
There shall my hopes
Be delighted…
There shall our hearts
Be united…
Say yes to me,
And the sky of the pampas at night
Shall invest all the moon and its light
In your eyes full of loving.
Don’t tell me no,
For the sorrows would dry up the rose,
And the thrush on the cross of my home
Would soon die for your love.
Tomorrow, when the sun is illumined,
Where the morning dew is lying,
Upon the fondest tears I was crying
In the clover, shall you tread.
Remember that for your sake I shed them,
And if you can feel my sorrow—
To the wind then, little swallow,
Let your pinions widely spread,
And by a single flight you’ll bring my sadness
To an end.
Nido gaucho (1942)
Music: Carlos Di Sarli
Lyrics: Héctor Marcó
Luciendo su color de esperanza
viste el campo su plumaje
y el viento hace vibrar sus cordajes
en los pastos y en la flor.
Yo tengo mi ranchito en la loma
donde cantan los zorzales…
Margaritas y rosales
han brotado para vos, *
porque un día será ese nido gaucho
de los dos.
Florecerán
mis ilusiones
y se unirán
los corazones.
Dime que sí,
que la noche pampera abrirá
y su rayo de luna pondrá
luz de amor en tus ojos.
No digas no,
que el dolor secará mi rosal
y en la cruz de mi rancho el zorzal
morirá por tu amor.
Mañana, cuando el sol se ilumine,
entre gotas de rocío
el llanto de este cariño mío
sobre el trébol pisarás.
Recuerda que por ti lo he vertido
y si sientes mi tormento,
golondrina, cara al viento,
tus dos alas abrirás…
Y de un solo vuelo mis tristezas
matarás.
[* During the censorship era 1943-1946, this was sung “para ti” to avoid using the voseo. No attempt was made to preserve the rhyme.]
_________
In an interesting turn of events, Di Sarli actually used the song for an experiment once, thinking that the lyrics were the vehicle by which tango might appeal to North American audiences. Appearing on the radio program “La voz de las Américas” in 1946, he led his orchestra in a performance of “Nido gaucho” using two singers—Jorge Durán, impressively delivering the first verse, and then Colombian crooner Bob Toledo, singing the bridge and chorus… in what appears to be a collage of Johnny Mercer songs:
Life promises
Someone will love me…
And as we live,
Moon shines above me…
Say that you will,
While I wait, what my pain *, I stand still,
Not a voice, not a sound, what a thrill,
Only hearts that are pounding…
Please say you will,
And I’ll live just for you through the years,
And my love will take care of your fears,
If you say that you will.
* (i.e., “how I hurt”)
One reason I translate these tangos is to make sure this never has to happen again. Nonetheless it’s a curious item, and if you’d like to listen along, you may find the audio here.