A-Ha – Take On Me

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  General Comment:One of the greatest pop songs ever. Take on me is really just saying to take a chance and that it's not better to be safe than sorry. You have to take risk in life and in relationships. The lines "I'll be gone... in a day or two" are actually kind of sad to me because it just goes to show that nothing will last forever and if you don't take the chance now it may be gone as soon as it came.

  Flag mk91on February 23, 2013   Link

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  Song Meaning:The lines "I'm shying away. I'll be coming for your love, OK" really start to tell the backstory. The first paragraph basically tells that the main character is leaving his girlfriend(Shying away), and is having trouble parting with her(I don't know what I'm to say I'll say it anyway), but that he'll return as soon as he can(Today's another day to find you I'll be coming for your love, OK?).
  The chorus is saying to make the most of the time they have left together(Take on me, take me on) and that the time they have together is running short(I'll be gone in a day or two.
  
  The second paragraph states that the main character returns and is having trouble coping with his girlfriend's moving on(So needless to say, I'm odds and ends. I'll be stumbling away, slowly learning that life is OK). The following lines(Say after me, it's no better to be safe than sorry) is the main character trying to convince his girlfriend(Say after me) that being prepared for the worst is no better than going through it(It's no better to be safe than sorry).
  
  The final stanza is about how the main character's girlfriend is trying to convince him to let go of the past(oh the things you'll say to me) by telling his that what happened was supposed to happen(Is it live or just to play my worries away). After that, the main character is telling his girlfriend that he's given up trying to let go(You're all the things I've got to remember) and the final lines are about how his ex has already left him behind(You're shying away), but he thinks she still cares enough to let him into her life again(I'll be coming for you anyway)

  Flag vonzhayon June 09, 2012   Link

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  General Comment:I think this song is about a guy who has to go somewhere and leave his girlfriend behind, but he's promising to come back for her.
  
  "I'll be gone in a day or two"
  "You're all the things I've got to remember"
  "I'll be coming for your love, ok?"
  
  Such a fun and upbeat song. I love it.
  

  Flag heysavannahon December 18, 2011   Link

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  Lyric Correction:these are the lyrics from a-ha's official website (a-ha.com/discography/albums/hunting-high-and-low/take-on-me/):
  
  We’re talking away
  I don’t know what I’m to say
  I’ll say it anyway
  Today’s another day to find you
  Shying away
  I’ll be coming for your love, OK?
  
  Take on me
  Take me on
  I’ll be gone
  In a day or two
  
  So needless to say
  I’m odds and ends
  But that’s me stumbling away
  Slowly learning that life is OK

  Say after me
  It’s no better to be safe than sorry
  
  Take on me
  Take me on
  I’ll be gone
  In a day or two
  
  Oh the things that you say
  Is it life or just to play my worries away
  You’re all the things I’ve got to remember
  You’re shying away
  I’ll be coming for you anyway
  
  Take on me
  Take me on
  I’ll be gone
  In a day or two


  Flag invaderDeviLinon November 21, 2011   Link

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• +1
  General Comment:He can certainly hit a note. Classic.

  Flag chipporaideron November 20, 2011   Link

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  Memory:...great song from my younger days...and i agree with almost all of the posative comments about this song...but i have to ask...has anyone on here ever watched a movie from that general era called "altered states"...the movies is about using hypnosis and sensory deprivation tanks to regress human evolution...in effect to enhance oneself...but of course it goes wrong and one of the guys doing the experiment ends up half reverting to caveman...and is using pain to try to force himself back to normal...this scene was a nearly exact copy of the take on me scene where the guy is beating himself against the walls to transform into a real guy...i do believe the movie came out first and i think it was kurt russel in it...its been a long time since seeing it

  Flag urielsunwanted1on September 10, 2011   Link

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    +1

    imdb.com/title/tt0080360/
    

    Flag vulnaviaon September 15, 2012  
• +4
  My Interpretation:I think this song is about this guy who likes this girl but he doesn't know how to express it. I think the chorus is his thoughts.
  
  "Talking away
  I don't know what I'm to say
  I'll say it anyway
  Today's another day to find you
  Shying away
  I'll be coming for you love, ok"
  
  He's trying to get to know her but he's babbling not saying what he wants to say
  He's keeps talking but when it comes to telling him he likes her--he shys away (bites his tongue)
  but then he tells himself that he's going to get her one day.
  
  Take on me
  Take me on
  I'll be gone
  In a day or two
  
  This is in his head--he can't tell her how he feels so he's hoping she'd say and take him on because he feels like if she doesn't it won't go anywhere and he'll just end up giving up.
  
  
  So needless to say
  I'm odds and ends, but upbeat
  Stumbling away
  Slowly learning that life is ok
  Say after me
  It's no better to be safe than sorry
  
  he really wants to tell her and but he keeps stumbling on the opportunity so he convinces himself that he could do this but at the same time he's hoping she would just tell him to say it...bring it up in a sense or give him a sign for him to take a chance and risk it.
  
  The things that you say
  Is it live or just to play
  My worries away?
  You're all the things I've got to remember
  You shying away
  I'll be coming for you anyway
  
  It's deeper into their friendship and she's basically flirting with him and saying things
  but he doesn't know if it's for real or if she's just teasing him and playing games
  He feels good around her---she makes him feel no worries
  he can't stop thinking about her but now she's also shying away from the opportunity to say how she feels about him. Now it doesn't even matter to him anymore he's going to tell her how he feels.
  
  Take on me
  Take me on
  I'll be gone
  In a day or two
  
  he's basically told her or the process of telling
  be my girl---take a chance with me
  or he's leaving.

  Flag Musicisloveislifeon May 15, 2011   Link

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  General Comment:I can relate to this perfectly. I met a girl and we only had a week together.

  Flag MarcusHon August 05, 2010   Link

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  Song Meaning:I think this song is about a couple that was together, but then they broke up. But "I'll be coming for you love, ok" is him saying that he wants to get back together, and she is "shying away" not too sure about being able to trust him again. But when it says "Take on me" Its like the guy holding out his hand for her to take, and trying to get her back, but then it says "Ill be gone in a day or two" and he leaves her again. "Stumbling away, Slowly learning that life is ok" I think is when she leaves him for doing that to her twice, and the guy is trying to get away, but it is hard for him, losing her. "It's no better to be safe than sorry" is him really regretting it, and he might be trying to get her back a third time. Then its the "Take on me" him getting her back again. She accepts him back, but then it happens again, and they break up once more. And when it says "The things that you say, Is it live or just to play" Is her trying to leave him, because she is over him, and she is so hurt and betrayed, she says mean things to him. Then he is really trying to get her back, and she is "shying away" Then he tries get her once more with the last "Take on me" and she doesn't, and the song is over and they are split up forever....
  
  I have no clue if im right, but thats just what i think it is... Its sad, and happy, and sad, and happy and then sad again, and oh so addicting to listen to... LONG LIVE THE 80'S!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wish i was alive in the 80s though... xD

  Flag cjtwilighton May 16, 2010   Link

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  General Comment:you got the lyrics wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!
  wrong: "so needless to say, im odds and ends, but thats me"
  correct: "i'm odds and ends, but upbeat"

  Flag ReezyMACon February 04, 2010   Link

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