Waterloo
by ABBA

Album: Waterloo (1974)
Charted: 1 6
Play Video
  • My, my
    At Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender
    Oh yeah
    And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
    The history book on the shelf
    Is always repeating itself

    Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war
    Waterloo, promise to love you forevermore
    Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted to
    Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you
    Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo, finally facing my Waterloo

    My, my
    I tried to hold you back but you were stronger
    Oh yeah
    And now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
    And how could I ever refuse?
    I feel like I win when I lose

    Waterloo, I was defeated, you won the war
    Waterloo, promise to love you forevermore
    Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted to
    Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you
    Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo, finally facing my Waterloo

    So how could I ever refuse?
    I feel like I win when I lose

    Waterloo, couldn't escape if I wanted to
    Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you
    Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo, finally facing my Waterloo, ooh
    Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you
    Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo, finally facing my Waterloo, ooh
    Waterloo, knowing my fate is to be with you Writer/s: Benny Goran Anderson, Bjoern K. Ulvaeus, Stig Erik Leopold Anderson
    Publisher: O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 13

  • Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenWhen I first heard this song in 1975, Agnetha and Frida’s harmony, which often sounds like one “voice of an angel,” had me hooked. Over the years, the lyrics of some of their songs put me off as a bit too simplistic, but those voices would have made practically anything listenable.

    N from Staten Island: The four of them spoke good English from their youths and the English version was NOT recorded phonetically.
  • Ace Moonbeam from LouisianaShould have mentioned Stonewall Jackson's "Waterloo", a monster country hit in 1959, #1 for 5 weeks.
  • Sioraf from Macroon, IrelandIn fact Napoleon surrendered aboard HMS Bellerophon. Not that anybody cares...
  • Cliff from Oakdale, NyIn the mid 70's Abba was the highest profitable entity in Sweden Volvo was second
  • Doug from Chantilly, VaOne of my favorite ABBA songs... Love the outfits and Bjorn's "ZAP" guitar, although I often wondered if Bjorn had worries about his height since so many times he appears in very tall platform shoes! :-D
  • Paul from Washington Dc, DcMy friends and I used to do a line dance to this one. It's got a great beat for it. Somebody ought to cover it. I wonder how it would turn out?
  • Doug from Kansas City, Mowell when you have a great song sung by fine singers who also happen to be total babes then nothing else is needed! when I first saw the girls on Midnight special or something I noticed them right away....
  • Caitlin from Upper Township, NjWaterloo is just one of those happy, bubbly 70's love songs. Can't resist 'em!
  • Larry from Coral Springs, FlThis is the song that 1st got me to get into ABBA's Music
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaThis is one of the most upbeat pop songs ever recorded! Made me and many others a life-long ABBA fan. You go, girls!
  • John from Fort Worth, TxThis is the first song by ABBA I remember hearing in my conscious memory. I have always loved the sound of the vocal and the sound of the piano. Over my life I learned the lyrics so I could sing along. John Martin, 46, USA
  • N from Staten Island, NyWhat's great about 'Waterloo' is the Swedish-accented vocals. The group didn't speak English very well and recorded the song phonetically.
  • Alexander from Ciudad OjedaIt was the English version that won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, not the Swedish one.
    The most famous copy of that performance is the one commented by Terry Wogan, the man who yearly comments the contest for BBC.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Tomlin

Chris TomlinSongwriter Interviews

The king of Christian worship music explains talks about writing songs for troubled times.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

Phone Booth Songs

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Ramones

RamonesFact or Fiction

A band so baffling, even their names were contrived. Check your score in the Ramones version of Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: '80s EditionMusic Quiz

You know the scenes - Tom Cruise in his own pants-off dance off, Molly Ringwald celebrating her birthday - but do you remember what song is playing?

Bryan Adams

Bryan AdamsSongwriter Interviews

What's the deal with "Summer of '69"? Bryan explains what the song is really about, and shares more of his songwriting insights.