Se Dice de Mi

Post date: Apr 16, 2014 4:59:00 AM

Many of you have no doubt heard this popular milonga song - Se Dice de Mi . 

To refresh your memory you can hear the song here: Se Dice de Mi sung by Tita Merello

Se Dice de Mi was written (music and lyrics) by Francisco Canaro and Ivo Pelay in 1943.  Although the mood of this song is obvious, even without comprehending the words, knowing what this song is about enhances the enjoyment of dancing to it.

To add, therefore, to your dancing enjoyment, here are the song's lyrics, with the original Castellano lyrics in purple text (after each verse). 

The English translation below is by Alberto Paz and sourced from Letras de Tango I enjoy the way this song reflects with mischief the times it was written in, such as "that I look like (the jockey) Leguisamo" or "puffing like a Ford"!

It's Said About Me  (Se Dice de Mi)

"It’s said about me

It’s said about me,

Its’ said that I’m ugly,

that I walk like a quarrelsome person,

that I’m bowlegged and that I move

with a conceited attitude,

that I look like (jockey Ireneo) Leguisamo,

my nose is pointy,

the silhouette doesn’t help

and my mouth is like a mail box.

"Se dice de mi,

Se dice de mi,

Se dice que soy fiera,que camino a lo malevo,que soy chueca y que me muevocon un aire compadrón,que parezco Leguisamo,mi nariz es puntiaguda,la figura no me ayuday mi boca es un buzón.If I chat with Luis, with Pedro or with Juan,the men are talking about me.They criticize if I already my waistline is gone,

they check if I go, if I come or if I left.

Si charlo con Luis, con Pedro o con Juan,

hablando de mi los hombres están.

Critican si ya, la línea perdí,

se fijan si voy, si vengo o si fui.

Many things are said

but the shape doesn’t matter,

because they lose their head

concerning themselves about me.

I know that many snub with lies

and sigh for me and die when they think of my love.

And more than one melts if I sigh

and if I look at them, they’re puffing like a Ford.

Se dicen muchas cosas,mas si el bulto no interesa,porque pierden la cabezaocupándose de mi.Yo se que muchos que desprecian con mentirasy suspiran y se mueren cuando piensan en mi amor.Y mas de uno se derrite si suspiroy se quedan si los miro resoplando como un Ford.If I’m ugly,let’s say it’s so,though I’m not aware of that,when it comes to love, all I know,that I left stranded more than one fool.

Si fea soy,

pongámosle,

que de eso aun no me entere,

en el amor, yo solo se,

que a mas de un gil, deje de a pie.

They might say, they might talk,

and gossip and bray,

but the ugliness that God gave me

many women envied it

and they won’t say that I deceived myself

because I always was modest.

I am this way.

Podrán decir, podrán hablar,

y murmurar, y rebuznar,

mas la fealdad que dios me dio,

mucha mujer me la envidio

y no dirán que me engrupi

porque modesta siempre fui.

Yo soy así