Table of Contents
Introduction
The Swedish pop group ABBA released many successful hits. The Winner Takes It All by ABBA is one of these classic hits. In this edition of our English Songs and Lyrics series, we’ll take a closer look at the song’s lyrics, themes, and significance.
The Winner Takes It All by ABBA
“The Winner Takes It All“ is a song recorded by the Swedish pop group ABBA.
Level
Intermediate and advanced students.
Facts about the song
- Song: The Winner Takes It All
- Album: Super Trouper
- Date of release: 21 July 1980
- Genre: Pop, soft rock
- Length of the song: 4 minutes and 54 seconds.
- Writers: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
- Produced by: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
Interesting information about the song
The lyrics to the song were thought to mirror the of Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog in 1979, similar to the 1981 song “When All Is Said and Done”, in which Ulvaeus deals with the divorce between Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Benny Andersson in 1981.
Ulvaeus denies the song is about his andFältskog’s divorce, saying the basis of the song “is the experience of a divorce, but it’s fiction. There wasn’t a winner or a loser in our case. A lot of people think it’s straight out of reality, but it’s not”.
The video
Watch the official clip of the song on YouTube:
The lyrics
Get the full lyrics here:
The Topic of the Song
The song “The Winner Takes It All” by ABBA delves into the aftermath of a breakup, exploring themes of love, loss, and acceptance.
The lyrics narrate the emotions of someone who is reflecting on a failed relationship, acknowledging the pain of separation and the feeling of being left behind. Despite the heartache, the protagonist accepts the outcome, recognizing that in love, there are winners and losers.
The song portrays a sense of resignation and understanding that life goes on, even after the pain of losing love. Ultimately, “The Winner Takes It All” captures the bittersweet reality of relationships and the inevitable acceptance of fate.
Language points
The song includes many interesting language points:
- Present perfect simple
- I don’t wanna talk about things we’ve gone through
- I’ve played all my cards
- Present continuous
- it’s hurting me
- Simple past
- I was in your arms thinking I belonged there…
Excerpt from the song:
I don’t wanna talk
About things we’ve gone through
Though it’s hurting me
Now it’s history
I’ve played all my cards
And that’s what you’ve done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play
Expressions that may be useful to students:
- Play all your cards
- It’s history
- Build a fence
- Be a fool
- Lose someone
- throw a dice
- The game is on
- feel bad
- complain
Song’s Vocabulary Quiz
Complete the following sentences using the words listed above:
- When you’re negotiating, sometimes you have to _________ if you want to get what you want.
- Don’t ___________ about the weather; just enjoy the sunshine while it lasts.
- After my dog passed away, I felt like I had ___________ a part of my family.
- He decided to _________ around his property to keep the deer out of his garden.
- In life, sometimes you win, and sometimes you __________. That’s just how it goes.
- When you’re playing a competitive sport, you need to be ready to ___________ at any moment.
- Don’t be a ___________. Get educated about the topic before you start talking.
- After betraying his friend, he couldn’t help but ___________ about what he had done.
- The excitement was palpable as the announcer declared, “___________!”
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Winner Takes It All by ABBA is undeniably one of the perfect songs for teaching or learning English. Its clear and emotive lyrics, along with catchy melody, make it an effective tool for language learners of all levels. The song’s themes of love, loss, and resilience resonate with many, providing ample opportunity for vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation practice.
Whether you’re teaching or learning English, “The Winner Takes It All” offers an engaging and memorable way to enhance language skills.
Source: Wikipedia