Toma estas monedas by Carlos Bahr

Toma estas monedas is a Tango written by Carlos Bahr and composed by Juan D´Arienzo.

Story behind the Tango Toma estas monedas

The poignant Tango “Toma estas monedas” confronts a profound love betrayal, voiced through the bitterness of financial exchange. The speaker offers coins, not as payment for love, but as a symbol of severance and disconnection. There is a strong sense of indignation and hurt that resonates through the repetition of tossing the coins, emphasizing the permanent emotional distance the speaker intends to maintain.

Symbolism of Toma estas monedas

Coins in this Tango represent more than currency; they symbolize the degradation of what was once cherished. The term “Tomá estas monedas” symbolizes dismissal and finality, reducing a once valued relationship to a transaction, underscoring the sense of betrayal. The notion of “el oro sucio”, or dirty gold, elevates this symbolism, intertwining love with corruption, and desire with moral decay.

Toma estas monedas in historic Context

Recorded in 1953, an era where Tango often captured the soul of Buenos Aires’ urban strife, “Toma estas monedas” mirrors personal pain through the dramatic backdrop of a rapidly modernizing society. During this period, Tango was not just dance music but a narrative medium that expressed deep societal and individual emotions. The Tango’s portrayal of betrayal perhaps echoes the feelings of displacement and longing in a changing Argentine society, caught between tradition and modernization.

Carlos Bahr

Carlos Bahr was a prominent Argentine tango lyricist known for his poignant and emotionally rich lyrics. His works often delve deeply into themes of love, betrayal, and existential sorrow.