“Take This Waltz” by Leonard Cohen, featuring Jennifer Warnes, paints a vivid picture of Vienna, intertwined with love, longing, and impermanence themes. While the city acts as a backdrop, the song delves deep into the complicated facets of a relationship. Vienna, with its beauty and history, mirrors the complexities of love. The song, inspired by the famous poet Federico García Lorca, captures that melancholic blend of passion and sorrow. Cohen, known for his deep voice and poetic prowess, showcases how fleeting and tragic love can be, reminiscent of a dance that must eventually come to an end.
Are you curious about the blend of romance, sorrow, and the beauty of Vienna? Let’s waltz through the song’s layers and uncover its captivating essence.
“Take This Waltz” Lyrics Meaning
The opening line sets the scene in Vienna, a city renowned for its elegance. The “ten pretty women” might signify fleeting attractions or distractions. Death finding a place to cry suggests that even in beauty, there’s a place for sadness. The “lobby with nine hundred windows” alludes to numerous perspectives or stories within the city, and the tree where doves – symbols of peace – go to die hints at the transitory nature of love and life.
The repeated phrase “Take this waltz” carries a heavy weight. Waltz, a dance of closeness and fluidity, here, symbolizes the delicate dance of relationships. The mention of the “clamp on its jaws” indicates that once you’re engaged in this dance, it’s hard to let go, even if it’s painful.
Desires come to the forefront with the lines, “Oh I want you, I want you, I want you.” These yearnings are portrayed in contrasting places, like the “chair with a dead magazine” or a “cave at the tip of the lily.” Cohen cleverly showcases the juxtaposition of life and decay, desire and indifference.
The lines about the concert hall in Vienna, and the mouth with “a thousand reviews,” could be hinting at criticisms or judgments in relationships. And those boys “sentenced to death by the blues” highlight the gloom and melancholy that sometimes shadow love.
An attic, typically filled with memories and old belongings, is where children play, again echoing past and present themes. The dream of “Hungarian lanterns” and a misty afternoon adds a surreal, dreamlike quality to the narrative.
The closing verses are deeply evocative. Dancing in Vienna, the river’s disguise, and the “hyacinth wild on my shoulder” blend romance with nature’s transient beauty. The idea of burying one’s soul in a scrapbook speaks of preserving memories even as life moves on. The final acceptance and surrender are evident in the last lines, where the waltz, representative of love, is both an offering and a culmination of everything that’s been.
The Story Behind “Take This Waltz”
“Take This Waltz” isn’t just a product of Leonard Cohen’s creative genius but is deeply rooted in his admiration for the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca. In his younger years, Cohen stumbled upon Lorca’s writings, and it left a lasting impression on him. So profound was this impact that Cohen named his daughter Lorca, signifying his deep connection to the poet. The song itself is directly inspired by Lorca’s poem “Pequeño vals vienés” (Little Viennese Waltz). Cohen’s fascination with this poem prompted him to craft an English interpretation, blending his own lyrical artistry with Lorca’s foundational theme.
When Cohen wrote “Take This Waltz,” he was already well-established as a musician who wore his heart on his lyrical sleeve, often drawing from personal experiences, feelings of longing, love, and loss. With its rich history of art, culture, and music, Vienna served as the perfect backdrop to the narrative. The city is known for its Waltz, and Cohen’s choice of this dance form encapsulates the ebb and flow of relationships.
Furthermore, the collaboration with Jennifer Warnes added another layer to the song. Warnes’ ethereal voice complemented Cohen’s deep, gravelly tones, enhancing the song’s emotional depth.
“Take This Waltz” represents a confluence of inspirations: a tribute to Lorca, an ode to Vienna, and an introspective reflection on love’s intricate dance. It’s a testament to Cohen’s ability to draw from varied influences and weave them into a masterpiece.