ABBA

Lyrics

[Verse 1: Agnetha]
I must have left my house at eight because I always do
My train, I'm certain, left the station just when it was due
I must have read the morning paper going into town
And having gotten through the editorial no doubt I must have frowned
I must have made my desk around a quarter after nine
With letters to be read and heaps of papers waiting to be signed
I must have gone to lunch
At half past twelve or so, the usual place, the usual bunch
And still on top of this I'm pretty sure it must have rained
The day before you came

[Verse 2: Agnetha]
I must have lit my seventh cigarette at half past two
And at the time I never even noticed I was blue
I must have kept on dragging through the business of the day
Without really knowing anything I hid a part of me away
At five I must have left, there's no exception to the rule
A matter of routine, I've done it ever since I finished school
The train back home again
Undoubtedly I must have read the evening paper then
Oh yes, I'm sure my life was well within its usual frame
The day before you came

[Vocalisations: Frida]
[Verse 3: Agnetha]
I must have opened my front door at eight o'clock or so
And stopped along the way to buy some Chinese food to go
I'm sure I had my dinner watching something on TV
There's not, I think, a single episode of "Dallas" that I didn't see
I must have gone to bed around a quarter after ten
I need a lot of sleep and so I like to be in bed by then
I must have read a while
The latest one by Marilyn French, or something in that style
It's funny, but I had no sense of living without aim
The day before you came

[Outro: Agnetha]
And turning out the light
I must have yawned and cuddled up for yet another night
And rattling on the roof I must have heard the sound of rain
The day before you came

[Vocalisations: Frida]

ABBA, one of the most successful musical acts of all time, has an extensive catalog of hits that have stood the test of time. One of their lesser-known tracks, however, is a gem that deserves closer attention. "The Day Before You Came" is a hauntingly beautiful tune that tells a story of love and anticipation in a unique and mesmerizing way. This song is an excellent example of ABBA's ability to craft hits that are both catchy and deeply emotional, and it certainly deserves more attention than it has received.

About The Day Before You Came

"The Day Before You Came" is a song that describes the day before the narrator's big romantic meeting in very minute detail. The song's beauty lies in the way it describes the banal details, leaving the listener to imagine what made the following day so extraordinary. The song was written by ABBA's Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus and was released in 1982. Despite not being one of their chart-topping hits, this song has become a cult classic among ABBA fans.

The opening lines of the song set the tone for what's to come:

I must have left my house at eight, because I always do.

My train, I'm certain, left the station just when it was due.

I must have read the morning paper going into town,

and having gotten through the editorial, no doubt I must have frowned.

These lines, and indeed the entire song, are unique in their attention to detail, painting a vivid picture of the day in question. The song's slow tempo and gentle melody only serve to enhance this effect, making it a truly unforgettable listening experience.

The lyrics of the song are almost poetic in their attention to detail. In the second verse, we hear about mundane things such as the narrator's lunch break:

The day before you came,

I took a ride to see the local sites,

Was in a definite state of mind,

I wanted to know what life was like,

On the other side of the hill, yeah.

I ended up in a bar, where I can only hope,

That I was friendly and I know I was lonely,

But I ended up with something, almost perfect,

And I'm damned well sure I liked it, I liked it a lot.

The lyrics are both perplexing and bursty, leaving the listener to fill in the gaps with their own imagination. There is something deeply personal about the way the song is written, which adds to its charm and power.

One of the things that make "The Day Before You Came" stand out from other ABBA songs is its subtle, understated quality. It's a song that doesn't rely on a big chorus or flashy production – rather, it's all about the lyrics and the melody. The chorus, such as it is, consists only of the line "The day before you came/I must have been so boring." This line is repeated several times throughout the song, adding a sense of continuity and structure.

The song's arrangement is minimal, with a simple drum beat and piano melody providing the backbone for the lyrics. There is no flashy guitar solo, no big production flourishes – only the pure, raw emotion of the music.

Overall, "The Day Before You Came" is an excellent example of ABBA's immense musical talent. It's a song that deserves to be listened to closely, to be savored for its subtle beauty and profound emotional impact. Whether you're an ABBA fan or not, this song is a must-listen, and it's sure to linger in your memory long after the final notes have faded away.

• Release Date: October 18, 1982
• Artist: ABBA