Tango of pain

Masochism Tango is a brilliant and funny song with a great performance of Tom Lehrer.

Tango songs are often about difficult love that causes pain. Here, the subject is treated with a distance that makes it possible to laugh of something that in other interpretation could be a simple drama. Artist is singing about pain that his beloved causes him. He describes different tortures. Tango is a sadomasochistic game between the lovers.

For those who speak Polish, Irena Kwiatkowska performance of Tango Kat (eng. tango torturer)

The lyrics of the song seems cruel, but the singer change the song into grotesque. What was supposed to be tragic is funny. Singing woman is begging her lover to treat her badly (below my free translation):

Torture! 

Trample!

I'll forgive you that

With your hands

With your shoes

Please oppress me

And torture my body!