ABBA

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I got appointments, work I have to do
Keeping me so busy all the day through
They're the things that keep me from thinking of you
Oh, baby, I miss you so, I know I'm never gonna make it
Oh, I'm so restless, I don't care what I say
And I lose my temper ten times a day
Still it's even worse when the night's on its way
It's bad, oh, so bad

[Chorus]
Somehow I'd be doing alright if it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could make it)
I'd have courage left to fight if it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could take it)
How I fear the time when shadows start to fall
Sitting here alone and staring at the wall
Even I could see a light if it wasn't for the nights
(Even I could see a light I think that I could make it)
Somehow I'd be doing alright if it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could take it)

[Interlude]

[Verse 2]
No one to turn to, you know how it is
I was not prepared for something like this
Now I see them clearly, the things that I miss
Oh, baby, I feel so bad, I know I'm never gonna make it
I got my business to help me through the day
People I must write to, bills I must pay
But everything's so different when night's on its way
It's bad, oh, so bad
[Chorus]
Somehow I'd be doing alright if it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could make it)
I'd have courage left to fight if it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could take it)
How I fear the time when shadows start to fall
Sitting here alone and staring at the wall
Even I could see a light if it wasn't for the nights
(Even I could see a light I think that I could make it)
Guess my future would look bright if it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could make it)
If it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could take it)
If it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could make it)

[Chorus]
Even I could see a light if it wasn't for the nights
(Even I could see a light I think that I could make it)
Guess my future would look bright if it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could take it)

[Chorus]
If it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could make it)
If it wasn't for the nights
(If it wasn't for the nights I think that I could take it)
Even I could see a light if it wasn't for the nights
(Even I could see a light I think that I could make it)
Guess my future would look bright if it wasn't for the nights

ABBA, the Swedish pop sensation that took the world by storm during the 70s and 80s, produced countless hits that still remain popular today. One of those hits is “If It Wasn't for the Nights,” a song that speaks of the loneliness and despair of a narrator dealing with the end of a relationship. The song is an uptempo tune with lyrics that are reflective of Björn Ulvaeus’s state of mind during his own divorce.

About If It Wasn’t for the Nights

The song “If It Wasn't for the Nights” was written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, the two male members of ABBA. The song was released in 1979 as the lead single from their album Voulez-Vous. It was a commercial success, reaching the top ten chart in many countries such as Germany, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, and it has remained a fan favorite over the years.

The song is an uptempo melody that is harmonized by the two female vocalists of ABBA, Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad, with a steady bass guitar line, synthesizer, and drums in the background. The chorus is anthemic and catchy, with the refrain "If it wasn't for the nights, I think that I would break" being especially memorable.

The lyrics are reflective of Ulvaeus’s personal life during his separation from his former wife and fellow ABBA member, Agnetha Fältskog. He states that the song was a reflection of his state of mind during their divorce, and that the narrator in the song reflects his own personal feelings of being alone and dealing with the thoughts of a relationship that has come to an end.

The narrator in the song is a person who dreads the end of the working day, as it means that they will be all alone to deal with their own thoughts. The lyrics convey a sense of despair and hopelessness, as the narrator struggles to come to terms with the end of their relationship. The verses of the song describe the narrator's dire situation, while the chorus expresses their desperation and the belief that they will not be able to cope without the nights.

Overall, “If It Wasn't for the Nights” is a beautifully crafted song that still resonates with fans who have gone through relationship troubles. It speaks to the universal experience of heartbreak and the feelings of loneliness and despair that can accompany it. ABBA's ability to create such music that speaks to the human experience has been a key to their longevity as artists and if there is one song that embodies their ability to tap into the emotions of their listeners, it is this one.

• Release Date: April 23, 1979
• Artist: ABBA