¡No te asustes ni me huyas!... No he venido pa' vengarme
si mañana, justamente, yo me voy pa' no volver...
He venido a despedirme y el gustazo quiero darme
de mirarte frente a frente y en tus ojos contemplarme,
silenciosa, largamente, como me miraba ayer...

He venido pa'que juntos recordemos el pasado
como dos buenos amigos que hace rato no se ven;
a acordarme de aquel tiempo en que yo era un hombre honrado
y el cariño de mi madre era un poncho que había echado
sobre mi alma noble y buena contra el frío del desdén.

Una noche fue la muerte quien vistió mi alma de duelo
a mi tierna madrecita la llamó a su lado Dios...
Y en mis sueños parecía que la pobre, desde el cielo,
me decía que eras buena, que confiara siempre en vos.

Pero me jugaste sucio y, sediento de venganza...
mi cuchillo en un mal rato envainé en un corazón...
y, más tarde, ya sereno, muerta mi única esperanza,
unas lágrimas amargas las sequé en un bodegón.

Me encerraron muchos años en la sórdida gayola
y una tarde me libraron... pa' mi bien...o pa' mi mal...
Fui sin rumbo por las calles y rodé como una bola;
Por la gracia de un mendrugo, ¡cuantas veces hice cola!
las auroras me encontraron largo a largo en un umbral.

Hoy ya no me queda nada; ni un refugio...¡Estoy tan pobre!
Solamente vine a verte pa' dejarte mi perdón...
Te lo juro; estoy contento que la dicha a vos te sobre...
Voy a trabajar muy lejos...a juntar algunos cobres
pa' que no me falten flores cuando esté dentro 'el cajón.

English translation

Don't be scared and don't run away from me!... I didn't come here to take revenge
if tomorrow, justly, I'm leaving so as not to return...
I've come to say goodbye and I want to take the pleasure
of looking at you face to face and contemplating myself in your eyes,
silently, for a long time, as you looked at me yesterday...

I've come so that together we can remember the past
like two good friends who haven't seen each other for a long time;
to remember that time when I was an honest man
and my mother's affection was a poncho that she had thrown over my noble and good soul
over my noble and good soul against the cold of disdain.

One night it was death who clothed my soul in mourning
my tender little mother was called to her side by God....
And in my dreams it seemed that the poor one, from heaven,
was telling me that you were good, that I should always trust you.

But you played dirty with me and, thirsty for revenge...
I sheathed my knife in a bad time in a heart...
and, later, already serene, my only hope dead..,
some bitter tears I dried them in a still life.

They locked me up in the sordid gayola for many years
and one afternoon they freed me... for my good... or for my bad...
I wandered aimlessly through the streets and rolled around like a ball;
By the grace of a beggar, how many times I stood in line!
the auroras found me long and long on a threshold.

Today I have nothing left; not even a shelter...I'm so poor!
I only came to see you to leave you my forgiveness....
I swear to you; I'm glad that happiness is enough for you...
I'm going to work far away...to gather some coins
so that I won't lack flowers when I'm inside 'the drawer.