In a quiet corner of Swedish social media, something extraordinary has been happening. A clip of ABBA’s haunting ballad “One of Us” has resurfaced — and within hours, the song became the center of conversation among longtime fans and younger listeners discovering it for the first time.
Originally released in 1981 as part of the group’s final studio album, The Visitors, “One of Us” stands out as one of the band’s most introspective and emotionally mature songs. And now, more than four decades later, it’s being heard — really heard — all over again.
“They passed me by, all of those great romances.
You were, I felt, robbing me of my rightful chances…”
These lines, paired with the aching delivery of Agnetha Fältskog, have once again captivated listeners across Sweden and beyond.
A Song Born from Real Heartache
By the time ABBA recorded The Visitors, the fairytale had begun to fray. Both couples — Björn and Agnetha, Benny and Frida — had separated. The band was still working together professionally, but the wounds were fresh, the smiles more reserved.
“One of Us” was one of the few songs on the album that felt deeply personal. Though written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, it was Agnetha — recently divorced from Björn — who sang the lead. And you can feel that weight in every word.
“It’s not just a ballad,” one fan commented on TikTok this week. “It’s a woman singing about regret — and she’s singing to the man who wrote the words. That’s ABBA in its rawest form.”
Why Now?
Some suggest that today’s social climate — marked by emotional openness, mental health awareness, and a longing for sincerity in art — is why a song like “One of Us” feels more powerful than ever.
Its themes of regret, missed chances, and emotional vulnerability cut through the noise of modern pop. In an era of temporary hits, “One of Us” is a reminder of the timeless power of emotional truth.
A Farewell That Never Faded
Though “One of Us” was one of the band’s final major singles before their decades-long hiatus, it lingers in the hearts of fans — not just for its melody, but for its brutal honesty.
And now, as it echoes once again across Swedish feeds and playlists, listeners of all ages are rediscovering why ABBA’s music wasn’t just pop — it was poetry set to harmony.
Because sometimes, the songs that come at the end… stay with us the longest.