Mano a mano [English translation]

Lost in my sorrow, today I evoke you

And I can see you have been,

In my poor, miserable life,

Nothing but a good woman

Your hot-shot airs

Brought warmth to my nest

You were kind, acted according to your principles

And I know you have loved me

As you never loved anyone else

As you will never be able to love again

The appreciation game started

As you, poor lovely woman

Dodged poverty at the boarding house

Today you are a real big-shot

Life smiles and sings for you

You waste the money

Of those you easily fooled

Just like a knavish cat would play

With a wretched mouse

Today you have your mind full of unhappy illusions

Fools, friends and seducers have deceived you

The dance of magnates

With its crazy temptations,

Where social climber pretensions

Are realised and surrendered

Has settled deep inside your poor heart

There's nothing I should thank you for

We are even now

I don't care about what you've done

What you do now, or what you will do

I believe I have repaid all the favours

I received from you

But in case I unintentionally forgot some minor debt

If you wish, charge it

To one of those fools' account

I hope that your achievements,

Poor, fleeting achievements,

Will become a long line of wealth and pleasure

I hope the big-shot who now maintains you

Has deep pockets

I hope you forsake your association with hustlers

And that other men will say "She's a good woman"

And tomorrow, when you become decayed, old furniture

And you have no hope left in your poor heart

If you need a little help, if you would like advice

Remember this friend, who will put his life on the line

To help you in whichever way he can, when the time comes