I don't want to talk
About the things we've gone through
Though it's hurting me
Now it's history
I've played all my cards
And that's what you've done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play

The winner takes it all
The loser standing small
Beside the victory
That's her destiny

I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence
Building me a home
Thinking I'd be strong there
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules

The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear
The winner takes it all
The loser has to fall
It's simple and it's plain
Why should I complain.

But tell me does she kiss
Like I used to kiss you?
Does it feel the same
When she calls your name?
Somewhere deep inside
You must know I miss you
But what can I say
Rules must be obeyed

The judges will decide
The likes of me abide
Spectators of the show
Always staying low
The game is on again
A lover or a friend
A big thing or a small
The winner takes it all

I don't want to talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You've come to shake my hand
I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence
But you see
The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all



Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Track duration: 04:55

"The Winner Takes It All" as written by Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K. Ulvaeus, Aleksej Anatolevich Kortnev

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


The Winner Takes It All song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +1
    My Opinion:This has to be the most maddeningly frustrating song I've ever heard. It has one of the prettiest melodies and progressions, coupled with lyrics that range from awesome to awful.

    I don't wanna talk
    About the things we've gone through
    Though it's hurting me
    Now it's history (Starts out OK enough)
    I've played all my cards (For some reason, I just love this phrase... finality, hopelessness, loss)
    And that's what you've done too (meh...)
    Nothing more to say
    No more ace to play (Well duh, you just said in the last line that you've played ALL your cards, so naturally you wouldn't have any left, let along an ace).

    The winner takes it all
    The loser standing small
    Beside the victory
    That's her destiny

    I was in your arms
    Thinking I belonged there
    I figured it made sense
    Building me a fence
    Building me a home
    Thinking I'd be strong there (wonderful poignant verse up to this point)
    But I was a fool
    Playing by the rules (you know, we're not stupid, we get it. Never mind the title. With the 'cards' reference in the first verse and 'winner/loser/victory' in the first chorus... we get it, you're using the concept of a contest as a parallel for your failed relationship and losing your lover to an adversary. We get it. Why do you have to keep beating us over the head with it? You're not being clever anymore by forcing more 'game' references in. Just leave it alone.)

    The gods may throw a dice (rolls eyes)
    Their minds as cold as ice
    And someone way down here
    Loses someone dear (this is a sweet line... could've been sweeter without the vibrato though, IMHO)
    The winner takes it all
    The loser has to fall
    It's simple and it's plain
    Why should I complain. (Never, EVER rhyme with a homonym... comPLAIN + PLAIN? Bleh.)

    But tell me does she kiss
    Like I used to kiss you?
    Does it feel the same
    When she calls your name?
    Somewhere deep inside
    You must know I miss you (These are some of the most AWESOMELY BEAUTIFUL three lines of any song I've ever heard. Tears welling up... just perfect! But then...)

    But what can I say (Wha...?! Whoa, NO... Please!!!)
    Rules must be obeyed (NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RULES?!? OBEY?!!! Now you're sounding like my mother! "You have to obey the rules, Gerald." What in the **** made you think that this horrible, crappy, tripe would make a fitting crown for this verse? Just Criminal!)

    I can't go on.

    It really gives the feeling that this song was in a half-written state, and then just rushed at the last minute to be recorded. There are so many instances of great lyrical starts that sound like they were then handed off to a fifth-grader to finish. Flame away if you wish, but this song could have been awesome, maybe even a classic, if not for the laziness of the writers.
    Flag gelon April 07, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:älskar den här låter. Så sant!
    Flag DA15Yon December 15, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Love the song! Though it's about breaking up a relationship :(

    But I don't think it's about Agnetha and Bjorn.
    "The lyrics to the song were thought to mirror the divorce between Ulvaeus and Fältskog in 1979. However, Ulvaeus himself denies this, saying the basis of the song 'is the experience of a divorce, but it's fiction. There wasn't a winner or a loser in our case. A lot of people think it's straight out of reality, but it's not'." --Wikipedia on The Winner Takes It All
    Flag AutumnLeaves34on October 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When I listened to this song a few days ago I got chills down my spine...then about 2 days later my BF broke up with me.
    Now I cry everytime I listen to it.
    Flag LoverlyLysson August 28, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:CabforCutie,

    I can't thank you enough for what you've done for me. You are awesome, and you absolutely made my day! I just checked out the site, hopelss of seeing any comment regarding to my questions and surprisingly I found yours. That was great, dude!

    Thank you million times!
    Flag mkjusticeon August 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One of the best songs of abba! i dont know why it has so little comments.. I have always been a fan of abba and went to see mamma mia... and meryl streep did and excellent rendition of this song!!
    Flag CabforCutieon August 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Here you go, the best I could:

    1) The winner takes it all- if you were to play a game such as basketball or poker, and you do a bet, the winner takes it all means the person that win takes all the money of the bids, in this song it is used to express the idea of losing a game and having to give up everything you own, in this case her feelings...

    2) The loser stands small- the person that lost is now useless, worthless and defense less compared to the winner.

    3) The god may throw a dice- means that iti is destiny there is no one who can make a dice turn out the way they want to .

    4) the spectators of the show always staying low- the people who are watching what is happening will not get involved.
    Flag CabforCutieon August 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Hi guys,
    Though English is my second language and I am not that excellent in it, I absolutely admire this very song. However, there are some expressions I totally can't understrand and would appreciate it if somebody provide me with a plain definition for these expressions that follows:
    1- `The winner takes it all`
    2-`The loser standing small Beside the victory`
    3- `The gods may throw a dice`
    4- `Spectators of the show Always staying low`

    Thanks in advance!
    Flag mkjusticeon August 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:one of the best break-up songs ever, anyone that says abba is shit needs to hear this.
    Flag missmeon April 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:A master piece from ABBA. Their greatest ever...
    This song brought their music to another level. Beautifull music and lyrics.
    Flag aintovertillitsoveron January 07, 2008   Link

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