Song Lyric Sunday 23/06/2019 – Cards /Dice /Gamble /Lose /Win

Thank you for the music! (hint, hint). Jim Adams tirelessly hosts Song Lyric Sunday and gives us the chance to share lots of favourite, and some not so familiar, songs.

The theme for this week seems to mirror life itself, with games, gambling, losing, and winning. We’ve probably all experienced a little bit of each of these. Hopefully with no excess that overwhelmed us.

If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.

Today I’m sharing a song from ABBA, released as the first single from their Super Trouper album on 21 July 1980.

The Winner Takes It All which had the original demonstration title “The Story of My Life” – was written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, with Agnetha Fältskog singing the lead vocal.

Björn always denied the song was about his and Agnetha’s divorce, but it always seemed to be a bit of a coincidence, especially considering the original title. It is certainly sung with great passion, and seemingly with pain etched on Agnetha’s face.

In a 1999 poll for Channel 5, “The Winner Takes It All” was voted Britain’s favourite ABBA song. This feat was replicated in a 2010 poll for ITV. In a 2006 poll for a Channel Five programme, “The Winner Takes It All” was voted “Britain’s Favourite Break-Up Song.”

I hope you enjoy it.

 

The Winner Takes It All

ABBA

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

The winner takes it all
The loser’s standing small
Beside the victory
That’s her destiny

I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence

Building me a home
Thinking I’d be strong there
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules

The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear

The winner takes it all (Takes it all)
The loser has to fall (Has to fall)
It’s simple and it’s plain (It’s so plain)
Why should I complain (Why complain)

But tell me does she kiss
Like I used to kiss you
Does it feel the same
When she calls your name

Somewhere deep inside
You must know I miss you
But what can I say
Rules must be obeyed

The judges will decide (Will decide)
The likes of me abide (Me abide)
Spectators of the show (Of the show)
Always staying low (Staying low)

The game is on again (On again)
A lover or a friend (Or a friend)
A big thing or a small (Big or small)
The winner takes it all (Takes it all)

I don’t wanna talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You’ve come to shake my hand

I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence

But you see

The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all

So the winner takes it all
And the loser has to fall

Throw the dice, cold as ice
Way down here, someone dear

Takes it all, has to fall
And it’s plain, I complain

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: ULVAEUS BJOERN K / ANDERSSON BENNY GORAN BROR

……and a bonus of:

Thank you for the music.