One of the most popular of Carlos Gardel’s tangos is “Por una Cabeza”. Written in 1935, the song’s title is originally a horse racing term “to lose by a head”. It was co-written by Alfredo Le Pera, just shortly before they were both killed in a plane crash in Columbia on 24 June 1935. The lyrics bemoans a man’s life as it compares losing the horse race to losing with women.
The complete lyrics of the song in Spanish along with its English translation was provided by the late Alberto Paz and his wife Valerie Hart on their website Planet Tango.
In 1935, the song was sang in the movie “The Tango Bar” by Carlos Gardel himself. It’s a fun and entertaining movie to watch even for those who do not understand Spanish because of its easy-to-follow humour.
Por una Cabeza
Songwriters: Carlos Gardel / Alfredo La Pera
Por una cabeza, de un noble potrillo
Que justo en la raya, afloja al llegar
Y que al regresar, parece decir
No olvides, hermano
Vos sabes, no hay que jugar
Por una cabeza, metejón de un día
De aquella coqueta y risueña mujer
Que al jurar sonriendo el amor que está mintiendo
Quema en una hoguera
Todo mi querer
Por una cabeza, todas las locuras
Su boca que besa
Borra la tristeza
Calma la amargura
Por una cabeza
Si ella me olvida
Qué importa perderme
Mil veces la vida
Para qué vivir
Cuántos desengaños, por una cabeza
Yo juré mil veces no vuelvo a insistir
Pero si un mirar me hiere al pasar
Su boca de fuego
Otra vez quiero besar
Basta de carreras, se acabo la timba
Un final reñido ya no vuelvo a ver
Pero si algún pingo llega a ser fija el domingo
Yo me juego entero
Qué le voy a hacer
Por una cabeza, todas las locuras
Su boca que besa
Borra la tristeza
Calma la amargura
Por una cabeza
Si ella me olvida
Qué importa perderme
Mil veces la vida
Para qué vivir
Only By a Head (English Translation)
By only a head of
a pureblood race colt
that just on the finish
had slowed down to shamble;
and upon riding back
it seems to be saying
forget not this brother,
you know that you shouldn’t gamble
By only a head I
was love struck at first sight
with that one coquettish
and cheerful dame
who by pledging with a smile
a love that she’s lying about
she burns all my love
in a blazing flame
[Chorus:]
By only a head were
all of the follies;
her lips when she’s kissing
the sadness are dismissing
the sourness make jolly
By only a head that
if she forgets me
won’t matter if I lose
my life that hurts me;
what is there to live?
Lots of disappointments,
by only a head all
thousand times I swore that
I won’t fall for this
but each time a passing
look off my feet sweeps me
her burning lips, once more,
I want to just kiss
I’m done with the race tracks,
I’m quitting all gambling
a dead heat I don’t want
to ever watch again
but if a young filly
looks sure bet on Sunday
I’ll gamble all I have,
what can I do then!
(chorus)
“Por una Cabeza” is an easy song to dance tango to because of its slow and clear rhythm. Because of this, it has become one of the most popular songs played by almost all of the major orchestras during the 1940’s and 50’s.
Even to this day, “Por una Cabeza” is still widely used, especially in Hollywood. In fact, it appeared in numerous scenes in the following movies:
- Scent of a Woman (1992) – The song was performed by “The Tango Project”, consisting of William Schimmel (accordion), Michael Sahl (piano) and Stan Kurtis (violin). The band also appeared in the scene along with Al Pacino.
- Schindler’s List (1993) – it suited well with the implication of Oskar Schindler’s “addiction” to women
- True Lies (1994) – Arnold Schwarzenegger dances to it twice – the first time was with a female spy and second was with his character’s wife.
- Frida (2002) – it was heard on a radio sung by Gardel
- Bad Santa (2003, Uncut version)
- All the King’s Men (2006)
- Planet 51 (2009)
FUN FACT:
During the tango scene in True Lies, it was discovered that Arnold had two left feet and fought to dance even the simplest of steps so most of the scenes were of him dancing tango from the waist up.
Source: https://sites.google.com/site/argentinetangoinfairbanks/por-una-cabeza