Pride and Punishment, Billionaire Spy #3 — Coming in April
Book Three is almost here, bringing plenty of drama and a very wild ride as Will and Mariana are tossed by a cyclone of trouble into many far-flung places. As we prepare for the release, I'm sharing a few "insider secrets" with those of you who follow the blog.
One of the more touching scenes (for me) is their last tango in Nice during a masque ball, just before a terrible betrayal.
As I was writing this book, I knew right away which tango Will would choose for the band to play, knowing Mariana would understand its significance for the two of them.
I chose Por una Cabeza—By a Head—by Carlos Gardel because it tears my heart out and stomps on it. It was also very fitting to the plot as we experience, high-stakes gambling, heartbreak, death, blood, vomit, and a hell of a 'slay' ride with Santa. (Prepare for a rollercoaster ride on roller skates.)
Enjoy the tune with a little visualisation in a scene from one of my favorite films: Easy Virtue
Here are the lyrics (translated by yours truly):
Por Una Cabeza By a head
Carlos Gardel lyrics by Alfredo Le Pera
Por una cabeza By a head
De un noble potrillo Of a noble foal
Que justo en la raya Which just on the line
Afloja al llegar Slows on arrival
Y que al regresar And which returning
Parece decir Seems to say
No olvidés, hermano Don't forget, brother
Vos sabés, no hay que jugar You know, you don't have to play.
Por una cabeza By a head
Metejón de un día The violent love of a day
De aquella coqueta Of that flirt
Y risueña mujer That smiling woman
Que al jurar sonriendo Who swears with a smile
El amor que está mintiendo The love that lies
Quema en una hoguera Who burns in the bonfire
Todo mi querer All my love
Por una cabeza By a head
Todas las locuras All the madness
Su boca que besa Of her mouth that kisses
Borra la tristeza Erases sadness
Calma la amargura Calms bitterness
Por una cabeza By a head
Si ella me olvida If she forgets me
Qué importa perderme What does it matter to lose
Mil veces la vida My life a thousand times
¿Para qué vivir? Why live?
Cuantos desengaños How many disappointments
Por una cabeza By a head
Yo juré mil veces I swore a thousand times
No vuelvo a insistir I won't insist again
Pero si un mirar But if one glance
Me hiere al pasar Injures me in passing
Su boca de fuego Her fiery mouth
Otra vez quiero besar I want to kiss again
Basta de carreras Enough of races
Se acabó la timba The shell game is over
¡Un final reñido A hard-fought ending
Yo no vuelvo a ver! I won't see again!
Pero si algún pingo But if some good horse
Llega a ser fija el domingo Is set for Sunday
Yo me juego entero I will play myself whole
¡Qué le voy a hacer! What else can I do!