Every time we think about Tango, Lunfardo comes to our head. But, is Lunfardo the language of Tango? Or is Tango a consequence of Lunfardo poetry? Anyone would think Tango and Lunfardo to be brothers. Actually, although it may sound incredible, they are not. This is because the origin of Tango lies in the Black rhythms, brought by slaves; whereas Lunfardo was originated amongst European immigrants living in Argentina.
However, having existed in the same time and places, they began to mix and blend. Lunfardo became more and more popular, and had the acceptance of different social classes, particularly of the lower one. Tango gave it the support Lunfardo needed for becoming part of everyday language in Buenos Aires: poets began to use it in their verses, singers began to interpret it and people in general began to use it, accept it and understand it.
"Lunfardo, that was born as a criminal code as a result of being the subject of philosophic and analytic speculations and manipulated in books and theatre, does not frighten anyone anymore, and it is now considered as something common and familiar.” (Francisco García Giménez”)
One of the first writers in using Lunfardo was Pascual Contursi in his famous tango “Lita”, which would later be renamed as “Mi noche triste” (“My sad night”) by Gardel. Lunfardo can be tasted in these verses:
“Percanta que me amuraste
en lo mejor de mi vida,
dejándome el alma herida
y espinas en el corazón_!”
“Woman, you have left me
in the best time of my life,
leaving my soul hurt
and thorns nailed in my heart”
One of the tangos where Lunfardo is best represented is “El ciruja” (“The beggar”), by Alfredo Marino and Ernesto de la Cruz, since it appears from the title. “Ciruja” is short for “Cirujano” (Surgeon), and it is an ironic idea, in which the stick beggars use for looking through garbage becomes the surgeon ‘s scalpel.
"Frente a frente, dando muestras de coraje,
los dos guapos se trenzaron en el Bajo,
y el Ciruja, que era listo para el tajo,
al cafiolo le cobró caro su amor...
campaneando un cacho ´e sol en la vedera,
piensa un rato en el amor de su quemera
y solloza en su dolor"
“In front of each other, giving proofs of courage,
the two “guapos” (brave men) got in a fight in the low part of the city,
and “el Ciruja”, who was quick for the wound
made the pimp pay for his love_
Watching a bit of sunshine on the sidewalk
he thinks about his love for a while
and weeps in pain.”
Of all tango singers the one who was most identified with Lunfardo was, undoubtedly, Edmundo Rivero, who loved it, felt it and was able to transmit it. In addition to that he was one of the founders of the Porteña Lunfardo Association.
Summing up: Lunfardo found its place in Tango and it is still one of the most Argentine ways of talking, since words originated in the “arrabal” at the beginning of the last century are still of common use. It is said that a people’s tongue reflects its identity, part of its culture and history, and in this case we can be sure about that. Lunfardo has left its mark side by side with Tango. 
