Soy un mozo pobre y bueno
que en la vida me he curtido,
yo soy como siempre he sido
para todo franco y leal.
No debo ni a mí me deben
y si hay algo en mi pasado
yo bien sé que está borrado,
porque a nadie le hice mal.

A mí me llaman Juan Tango,
si yo le fuera a contar,
mi cuna fue un barrio pobre
humilde como es el pan,
traigo en los ojos antojos
de agua florida y percal.
Bajo el ala del chambergo
genio y figura de mi ciudad
a mí me llaman Juan Tango
si yo le fuese a contar.

Para mí todos son buenos
porque a golpes con la vida
me gusta que a mí me midan
lo mismo que mido yo.
Yo siempre he sido sencillo
y si el pasado me llama
con fragancia de retama
voy dejando mi canción.

English translation

I am a poor and good boy
that in life I've been tanned,
I am as I have always been
for everything frank and loyal.
I do not owe nor am I owed
and if there is anything in my past
I know well that it is erased,
because I have done no one wrong.

They call me Juan Tango,
if I were to tell you,
my cradle was a poor neighborhood
humble as bread is,
I bring in my eyes cravings
of flowery water and calico.
Under the wing of the chambergo
genius and figure of my city
they call me Juan Tango
if I were to tell him.

For me they are all good
because with the blows of life
I like to be measured
the same as I measure myself.
I have always been simple
and if the past calls me
with the fragrance of broom
I leave my song.