"Por una cabeza" is one of the most popular tangos around the world, especially after it was included in the soundtrack of film “Scent of a Woman”, starring Al Pacino, in the early 1990s, that earned the actor his only Academy Award. This tune is perhaps one of the best creations of the songwriting partnership of Carlos Gardel (music) and Alfredo Le Pera (lyrics), and was written in New York in 1935. The original version was recorded by Gardel for his last film "Tango-Bar".

Gardel and Le Pera both died in a plane crash that same year in Medellín, Colombia, while on tour. Due to the fact that both died more than 70 years ago, the song is copyright-free.

“Por Una Cabeza” is perhaps one of the tangos with the most cover versions, and it has been rendered in many styles and by many artists, from rocker Andres Calamaro and Italian romantic singer Andrea Bocelli. It has been included in many movie soundtracks too.

The lyrics make reference to horse racing, which Gardel was a fan of. "Por una cabeza" means the horse won the race very tightly. But the words are also an analogy for the game of love, in which the character bets everything he owns for a woman he trusts, only to have his heart broken. The bottom line is that, in both cases, horse racing and love, the character is playing a losing game.

///By the head of a colt/that gives up just before the line/and looks at you as saying/ don’t forget my brother/you shouldn’t bet

By the head of a horse/one-day romance/with that flirtatious woman/who swore she loved me/while knowing that wasn’t true/and she burnt in a bonfire my love

The song was included in the film "Tango bar", which premiered at the now-disappeared "Suipacha" cinema, in Buenos Aires. There are those who believe the words express the sorrow of someone who is in pain but aware of the cause of his pain, and yet, he can’t get away from it, despite all his efforts. He promises himself not to bet on horses and not to fall for the woman, but he breaks these promises over and over.

Lyrics use abundant “lunfardo”, which is the slang of Buenos Aires. There are words like “Timba” (Gambling) and “Pingo” (Horse). Here’s another rendition of the song, by reggae band “Los Pericos”.

/// How many disappointment/por una cabeza/I swore 1000 times I wouldn’t insist/but if her look hurts me/I want to kiss her mouth of fire again/

No more racing/no more gambling/I am not seeing another tight end/But if there’s good horse on Sunday/I bet everything I have on it/What am I going to do

In the original version of 1935, there are some back-up singers that, like Greek tragedies, echoes Gardel’s words to emphasize he admits he can’t keep his rational promise not to bet nor love again.

At this point, Gardel knows he’ll lose, both in the races as with the love he thought was true to him.

/// For a head, / madness/ Her kissing mouth,/ erases sadness/ calms bitterness// For a head/ if she forgets me, / what does it matter to lose my life a thousand times over, / what is the reason to live? (…)///.