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The Latin American Bolero: A Transnational Popular Music Main Menu The Bolero From Santiago to Mexico City and the World "Tristezas" (1883) The Bolero is born in Santiago de Cuba Los Cuatro Grandes "Boda Negra" (1919) The Bolero Arrives in Mexico Bolero Yucateco "Presentimiento" (1924) Bolero Yucateco "Nunca" (1927) Bolero Yucateco Agustin Lara's Boleros "Solamente Una Vez" (1942)

"Imposible" (1928)

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"Imposible" was Agustín Lara's first (and most famous) bolero. He claims that he was inspired to write it after playing Cardenas's "Nunca" (1927) almost every day on piano. 
 
Yo se que es imposible que me quieras,
Que tú amor para mí, fue pasajero
Y que cambias tus besos, por dinero
Envenenando así, mi corazón
 		I know that it’s impossible for you will love me
That my love for you was just transient
And that you sell your kisses for money
Just like that, poisoning my heart
Yo se que es imposible que me quieras,
Que tú amor para mí, fue pasajero
Y que cambias tus besos, por dinero
Envenenando así, mi corazón
 		I know that it’s impossible for you will love me
That my love for you was just transient
And that you sell your kisses for money
Just like that, poisoning my heart
No creas que tus infamias de perjura
Incitan mi rencor, para olvidarte
Te quiero mucho más, en vez de odiarte
Y tú castigo, se lo dejo, a Dios
 		Don’t think that your infamy of lying
Incites anger in me, to forget you
I love you more and more instead of hating you
And your punishment, I leave to God
No creas que tus infamias de perjura
Incitan mi rencor, para olvidarte
Te quiero mucho más, en vez de odiarte
Y tú castigo, se lo dejo, a Dios
 		Don’t think that your infamy of lying
Incites anger in me, to forget you
I love you more and more instead of hating you
And your punishment, I leave to God


The lyrics are believed to be about a prostitute. Lara began his musical career playing in brothels, thus leading to a seedy association to the Mexican bolero during the 1930s. 

Below is a recording of Lara himself performing the tune:



This song was revived in 2012 by Mexican indie pop singer, Natalia LaFourcade, as part of her album Homenaje a Agustin Lara (Homage to Agustin Lara). Leon Larregui, rock singer of the group Zoé, accompanies her. 


 

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  1. Agustin Lara's Boleros Jeannelle Ramirez

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