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| Section | Bars | Chords (in Am) | Notes | |---------|------|----------------|-------| | Intro | 4 | Am – Dm – E7 – Am | arpeggiated or strummed | | Verse 1 | 8 | Am – Dm – E7 – Am / F – Dm – E7 – Am | main melody | | Verse 2 | 8 | Same as Verse 1 | lyrics repeat or continue | | Bridge | 8 | Dm – G7 – C – F – Dm – E7 – Am | contrasting section | | Verse 3 | 8 | Am – Dm – E7 – Am / F – Dm – E7 – Am | return to main theme | | Outro | 4–8 | Am – Dm – E7 – Am (ritardando) | optional coda |
Written in 1955 by Panamanian songwriter Carlos Eleta Almarán, the song was never intended to be a global blockbuster. It was born from a deeply personal tragedy. Almarán wrote the song after learning of the death of his brother’s wife. The grief that shook the family was distilled into lyrics that would go on to define an entire genre of Latin American romantic music. partitura historia de un amor
