Mano a mano [English translation]

Bedeviled by despair I recall you today and now I see

that in my unfortunate life you were indeed a good woman.

Your wonderful presence filled my nest with heat,

you were awesome, consistent, and I know you loved me

like no one else before and you won't love anyone that way ever.

We were learning each other when you, my poor lover,

struggled with poverty working in a shabby boarding house.

Now you're a lady, life smiles and sings to you

and you splash cash of suckers that you have cheated so easily,

playing with them like a wicked cat plays with a poor mouse.

Today your head is full of naive illusions,

johns, girlfriends and pimps cheated you.

The milonga among the rich with their crazy temptations,

in which bitter dancers triumphed and surrendered,

stuck very deeply in your poor heart.

There's nothing I should thank you for, we are even.

I don't care what you did, what you do nor what you'll do...

I think I already paid for the love you gave me

and if there's a small debt I unintentionally overlooked

you can cash it from your current lover's account.

In the meantime, let your successes, pathetic, casual successes,

be a long line of wealth and pleasure.

I hope the poser who looks out for you has enough money

so you can escape from a bar full of pimps

and everyone will say: "She is a respectable woman".

And tomorrow, when you become an unneeded old piece of furniture

and your heart loses all hope

if you'll need help, if you'll need advice,

then recall that friend who would risk his own life,

to help you out in whatever he can when the time comes.