Take This Waltz is a song associated with the Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen and with the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. First appearing in 1986 on a tribute compilation devoted to Lorca, the piece was issued as a single and later incorporated into Cohen's 1988 studio album I'm Your Man. Its combination of spare, elegiac music and highly pictorial lyrics helped the song reach a wide audience, including a No. 1 position on the Spanish charts in 1986.
Origins and lyrics
The words of "Take This Waltz" are a loose English rendering and adaptation of Lorca's short poem "Pequeño vals vienés," which appears in the poet's book Poeta en Nueva York. Cohen approached the material as a translator and interpreter rather than a literal translator: he preserved much of Lorca's surreal urban imagery and melancholic tone while reshaping lines to fit a song form and his own vocal style. Because the song draws directly on Lorca's text, the poem's themes of nocturnal cityscapes, longing and fragile beauty are integral to Cohen's version.
Composition and style
Musically, the song evokes the conventional waltz rhythm in its three-beat phrasing, though Cohen's delivery and the arrangement give it a modern, introspective character. The performance emphasizes atmosphere over virtuosity: slow tempo, clear central vocal, and layered accompaniment that supports rather than overwhelms the words. Listeners frequently note the marriage of old-world waltz sentiment with late-20th-century production choices, creating a timeless, haunting effect.
Release and reception
After its first appearance on the Lorca tribute collection, the song was released as a single and drew considerable attention in Spanish-speaking countries. It was subsequently added to Cohen's popular album I'm Your Man, where it sits among other songs that revived his profile in the 1980s. Contemporary reviews praised the respect shown to Lorca's imagery and Cohen's ability to turn a poem into a song that stands on its own. The recording is often credited to both Cohen and Lorca in recognition of the poem's central role.
Legacy and notable facts
"Take This Waltz" remains one of Cohen's most frequently cited adaptations of literary material. It has continued to appear on compilations, in live set lists and in popular discussion of Cohen's work as an interpreter of poetry. The title and mood of the song have also entered broader culture; for example, it shares its name with a 2011 feature film by Sarah Polley. The song is a clear example of how translation and musical interpretation can extend the reach of a poem into new languages and audiences.
- Source poem: "Pequeño vals vienés" (Lorca) — Poeta en Nueva York
- Performer: Leonard Cohen (Canadian singer-songwriter)
- First released: 1986 on a Lorca tribute compilation — single release and later on I'm Your Man
- Notable credit: adaptation/translation of Lorca — recognized in song credits (Federico García Lorca)
For further reading about Cohen's recording career and his relationship with literary sources, consult artist profiles and editions that discuss his songwriting process and translations. Recorded versions, live performances and anthologies provide multiple ways to hear how a 20th-century poem found new life in song form. Additional resources and discographies can be found via artist pages and music archives: recording details, biographical context, and commentary on Lorca's work and influence here.