The Day Before You Came

ABBA

About The Day Before You Came

"The Day Before You Came" is a song recorded and released by Swedish pop group ABBA, their second longest (after "Eagle") at almost six minutes in length. It was originally released in 1982 as both a single and a track on the compilation album The Singles: The First Ten Years. Although it was the final ABBA recording until 2018 (over 35 years later), the song released as their final single was "Under Attack", which also featured on the singles compilation album.


Year:
1988
5:45
143 
#1

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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

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 it's usual frame
The day before you came

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

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

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ABBA

ABBA was a Swedish pop group formed in Stockholm in 1972, comprising Agnetha Fältskog, Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. ABBA is an acronym of the first letters of the band members' first names and is sometimes stylized as the registered trademark ᗅᗺᗷᗅ. They became one of the most commercially successful acts in the history of pop music, topping the charts worldwide from 1972 to 1982. They are also known for winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, giving Sweden its first victory in the history of the contest and being the most successful group ever to take part in the contest. more »

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Written by: Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K Ulvaeus

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Origin of Song
"The Day Before You Came" was released by popular Swedish pop band ABBA in 1982. It was the first single from their compilation album "The Singles: The First Ten Years."
Recording Sessions
The song was one of ABBA's final recordings, featuring in the last recording sessions the band had, before their unofficial split in 1982.
Songwriters
"The Day Before You Came" was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, two members of ABBA and known for creating many of ABBA's greatest hits.
Vocals
Lead vocals for the song were done by Agnetha Fältskog, while the other member, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, provided backing vocals.
Song Theme
The song talks about the mundane routine of everyday life before the arrival of a new lover. The lyrics are filled with observational details highlighting the drudgery and predictability of life without passion.
Chart Performance
Despite being one of ABBA’s final singles, "The Day Before You Came" unfortunately failed to achieve significant chart success in some countries including the USA. However, it peaked at number 32 in the UK charts and had more success in European countries such as Belgium and Netherlands where it reached number 1.
Music Video
The video was directed by longtime ABBA collaborator Lasse Hallström and was filmed in Stockholm and on the island of Viggsö.
Song Length
The original song is over five minutes long, but some radio stations played a shortened version.
Cover Versions
Since its release, "The Day Before You Came" has been covered by several artists including Blancmange, Tanita Tikaram, and Steven Wilson.
Critic's view
Despite its lackluster commercial performance, the song is considered by critics and fans alike to be one of ABBA’s best works, praised for its mature songwriting and melancholic tone.
Awards/Nominations
Although "The Day Before You Came" did not win any awards upon its release, it was included in the compilation "ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits" which became one of the best-selling albums worldwide.
Song Meaning
"The Day Before You Came" is often seen as a metaphor for the end of ABBA, representing the band members' lives before they chose to part ways.

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