Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
A poetic adaptation of Federico García Lorca's 'Pequeño vals vienés,' featuring Cohen's earthy baritone over a mid-tempo waltz with accordion and strings evoking Vienna's haunted romance.
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Moods: intimate, melancholy, nostalgic
Traditions: folk, waltzes
How this song sits on each sensory axis
A dynamic range of 5/10 is within the normal pop-mix band. There is variation between verse and chorus, but it's the kind of variation most listeners encounter routinely.
Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.
Predictability is high — the song telegraphs what it will do next. A sensory-sensitive listener can usually guess where it's going without close attention.
Vocal style: soft vocals.
Where this sits in Leonard Cohen's catalog
We have 51 songs from Leonard Cohen in the library. Of those, 32 are rated Safe, 18 Moderate, and 1 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 5/10 sits above the artist average of 4.3, making it the #14 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.
Other tracks from I'm Your Man
We have 6 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.
- Tower of Song — safe DR 3
- Ain't No Cure for Love — moderate DR 7
- I'm Your Man — safe DR 4
- Everybody Knows — moderate DR 4
- First We Take Manhattan — moderate DR 5
1988 context
Released in 1988. We have 212 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.4/10. This track is quieter / less dynamic than the year average. Explore more from the 1980s.
Explore by mood and tradition
Why this rating
We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.
Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
Frequently asked about "Take This Waltz"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the sensory intensity of "Take This Waltz" by Leonard Cohen?
"Take This Waltz" by Leonard Cohen rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 5/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Take This Waltz" — what is its dynamic range?
"Take This Waltz" has a dynamic range of 5/10. Within normal pop-mix variation. Movement between verse and chorus but nothing dramatic.
Does "Take This Waltz" have sudden or surprising changes?
"Take This Waltz" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "Take This Waltz" best for?
In our library "Take This Waltz" is recommended for: deep listening, meltdown recovery, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Take This Waltz" released?
"Take This Waltz" is from 1988, on the album "I'm Your Man". It appears in our 1980s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Take This Waltz"?
We tag "Take This Waltz" as intimate, melancholy, nostalgic. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Take This Waltz"?
The vocal style is soft vocals.
Should I listen to "Take This Waltz"?
"Take This Waltz" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
What this song means to people
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