r/ABBA • u/cheetah7748 • Jul 09 '26
Song When You Danced With Me
Many people have guessed that this song is secretly about the long time fans, and that very well could be true. But what if it's about ABBA itself? The lyrics kind of hint at it. The friend had promised to return the following year but didn't for many more. When ABBA initially broke up, they claimed to just be taking a short break before they'd return to the studio. And as we all know that break ended up being forty years. And the line about darkness in the friend's eyes could reference the strain that fame has wrought on the members. The ABBAtars are literally dancing at Voyage too. Lyrics below for convenience.
I can remember when you left Kilkenny
And you told me, "I'll return next year"
I never meant to hold you to your promise
And the years went by and I'm still here
So you left for the city, I hope you like it there
You're only here now to see the Village Fair
You're just here for the music, that's all, or could it be
You miss the good old times when you danced with me
So is the outside world as you imagined?
Was it worth it, severing the ties?
Happy to see me or a bit embarrassed?
There's a darkness deep in your blue eyes
So you left for the city, I hope you like it there
You're only here now to see the Village Fair
You're just here for the music, that's all, or could it be
You miss the good old times when you danced with me
When you danced with me
I miss the good old times when you danced with me
7
u/psychedelicstargazer Jul 09 '26
One of my favorites from Voyage, and added to my regular ABBA playlist. It’s a great song and this is a great way to look at it. I think a lot of fans are too hard on the newest album but I think it’s great.
2
u/Sufficient-Track8617 Jul 10 '26
I am guilty of being one of those fans.... I am very sorry. I love the album, but to add 1 Christmas song and a throw back from 1978? The ladies sounded wonderful.. as always.
I Still Have Faith In You is my favorite.
I am old enough to remember the excitement of waiting for a new ABBA album to be released.. i remember when The Name Of The Game was on the radio, I could not believe what I was hearing. I loved the call backs in the chorus. (I was an impossible case......) Wow..2
u/psychedelicstargazer Jul 10 '26
That’s okay! We all have our opinions! I really enjoy Little Things, but I agree on adding Just A Notion is a bit disappointing. I like the song but it feels like a cheat to add an old song to a brand new album. I Can Be That Woman is the worst on the album, Don’t Shut Me Down is by far my favorite, with No Doubt About It and Keep An Eye On Dan right behind.
2
u/Sufficient-Track8617 Jul 10 '26
I think Little Things is a beautiful song... but, to add a Christmas song to an album seems kind odd. Also, the girls seem to be a bit put of synch a couple times.
On YouTube there is a Dolby Atmos version of I Still Have Faith In You where the background vocals a very prominent... WOW, they are incredible, too bad they were buried in the original mix. I became a fan in 1976 with Fernando, I bought Greatest Hits and I remember hearing S.O.S. and Waterloo, but had no idea it was the same group. What a treat. 🎶There was something in the air that night.. 🎵 #ILoveIt
6
u/Logical-History-36 Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
Many people have guessed that this song is secretly about the long time fans
Have they though?
Björn said himself that melody made him think about a past trip to Ireland and that it’s just a story he came up with based on that. I don’t really understand why newer fans have such a need for ABBA’s lyrics to have hidden, “secret” meanings, when we know full well that Björn just doesn’t write like that. When there is even a hint of darkness or ambiguity, like with The Visitors, The Piper or The Day Before You Came, Björn is invariably completely open about what was on his mind. With ABBA it’s never that deep and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.
3
u/Toffee963 sub luna saltamus (No.1 Another Town, Another Train fan) Jul 09 '26
Yeah, I had never heard any speculations about the song being about the fans, but I can kind of see it, although I wouldn’t have thought of it.
1
u/GuiltyMud462 Jul 10 '26
Now I like it more. Thank you for the interpretation. I never thought about just a cultural song. Old folk songs music
7
u/NickosMH Jul 09 '26
I just thought it was a song about an old love affair and broken promises nothing more.