I hear the door-bell ring and suddenly the panic takes me
The sound so ominously tearing through the silence
I cannot move, I'm standing
Numb and frozen
Among the things I love so dearly
The books, the paintings and the furniture
Help me...
The signal's sounding once again and someone tries the doorknob
None of my friends would be so stupidly impatient
And they don't dare to come here
Anymore now
But how I loved our secret meetings
We talked and talked in quiet voices
Smiling...
Chorus:
Now I hear them moving
Muffled noises coming through the door
I feel I'm
Crackin' up
Voices growing louder, irritation building
And I'm close to fainting
Crackin' up
They must know by now I'm in here trembling
In a terror evergrowing
Crackin' up
My whole world is falling, going crazy
There is no escaping now, I'm
Crackin' up
These walls have witnessed all the anguish of humiliation
And seen the hope of freedom glow in shining faces
And now they've come to take me
Come to break me
And yet it isn't unexpected
I have been waiting for these visitors
Help me...
(repeat chorus x3 and fadeout)
To go from such cheery catchy bright songs such as "Dancing Queen", "Take A Chance On Me"
and "Waterloo" to this? Something must have surely been up within the band. Although it
is no secret that broadly all the band members definitely had issues at the time, the
exact specifics of them were anyone's guess. What was going on within the minds of the
songwriters to write such grim, sad lyrics such as this? I now attempt to examine them
more closely, although I must stress, that this is only my interpretation and may or may
not reflect what the song was really about.
First of all, lets start with what we know about the song: It was written to reflect the
dangerous situation of political dissent in the Soviet Union at the time. This tends to
suggest the song is sung through the eyes of someone who is oppressed by the political
authority around them and is dying (perhaps with fultility) for a revolution. But to me
the song is much more than that. Where most songs would stop at just giving a broad
overview of the situation, this song actually actively describes someone in the midst of
a situation where the authoritative power(s) are about to catch up to him/her. This is
not a song about hope for freedom at all, but rather about someone who is about to meet
his/her fate and be captured by the oppressor.
The song describes the moment the authoritative power knocks on the door to capture
whoever is rebelling against their oppression. This could be reflective of what was
going on with the Soviet Union's regime of targeting dissidents who have fled the country,
tracking them down, and knocking on them door to pull them back into the USSR. The whole
song is centered about that one moment, that knock on the door, that inevitable moment
of truth. The moment when the singer realises there's no turning back, this is real,
there's no escape, they are about to be captured by their oppressor.
The lyrics "I hear the doorbell ring and suddenly the panic takes me" and "the sound so
ominously tearing through the silence" describe this moment. "I cannot move I'm standing
numb and frozen among the things I love so dearly - the books, the paintings and the
furniture" - is reflective on how someone is, perhaps for the last time, reflecting on
the things they value dearly about their current life as they know it, before they are
about to be swept away from their world forever.
The next lyrics "The signal's sounding once again and someone tries the doorknob" followed
by "None of my friends would be so stupidly impatient" further suggest how the singer is
becoming more aware of the reality of who is about to come and get him/her. "And they
don't dare to come here any more now", again a reference to his/her friends, is most
likely referring to the dangerous situation of when someone rebelling against society
has started to become actively pursued by the authorities, and the friends don't dare
to come to their house any more as they have sensed the risk of getting caught is too
high. "But how I loved our secret meetings, we talked and talked in quiet voices,
smiling" is a reference to the happy times a rebel against society has with their fellow
rebels against oppression, talking quietly in secret in the privacy of their own home,
smiling.
The chorus is basically a further reflection on the feelings the person on such a
situation of political repression must be feeling, when their ultimate moment of
fate is imminent. Lyrics such as "And I'm close to fainting" and "My whole world is
falling, going crazy, there is no escaping now I'm crackin' up", are further examples of
this. Incidentally, quite apart from what I believe is its political purpose, I
believe this song would also be a great description of feelings of social anxiety in
general, but that's another matter.
"These walls have witnessed all the anguish of humiliation" - quite simply refers to
to the feelings of the person being oppressed, of both anger and humiliation, and what
the walls could say they have witnessed this person feel ("If walls could talk...").
But most telling and startling of all I believe is the lyrics which follow "And now
they've come to take me, come to break me, and yet it isn't unexpected." And yet it
isn't unexpected? It really makes me wonder where on earth they came up with the idea
to write these lyrics. "I have been waiting for these visitors" again is startling as
it seems to suggest that the singer not only fears the oppressors who are coming to get
them, but also for some reason has been waiting for them?
Let me try to explain this further. I haven't much firsthand experience in this area
myself, but I can imagine/guess that when a person gets so wound up in the idea and
excitement of fighting against oppression, there is a certain side of him/her that almost
wants to be caught. The feeling that they almost want to become a martyr. This may
sound far fetched at first, but lets consider the life of someone who's been oppressed
by authority all their life. The idea of getting caught and having their fight against
oppression known is almost a dream come true in a way. The idea that this is no longer
a secret, that they will now get to confront their oppressor(s) head on is almost a
relief. However, it may also be a misguided feeling as undoubtedly the treatment the
dissidents of the Soviet Union went through was cruel and harsh.
Put quite simply, the feeling of "And yet it isn't unexpected" and "I have been waiting
for these visitors" is a reference to the feeling of hopelessness of the singer, a sort
of knowing that in the end they will inevitably be caught, but they want to give a shot
at living this secret, awesome, excitement-filled underground life for a while, just to
enjoy it while it lasts. But deep down somewhere, they've always known what will await
them in the end. Incidentally, a further reference to this type of feeling is expressed
in the book 1984 when the captor O'Brien says to the main character Winston when he has
just been captured in the Ministry of Love "You knew this, Winston. Don't deceive
yourself. You did know it - you have always known it" as a reference to knowing that
Winston has always known, during his time of rebellion against his oppressive society,
that his day of capture would come. The same feeling is expressed in the words
"I have been waiting for these visitors" - the "visitors" being the oppressors, the
capturers, and the victim or oppressee always having known deep down that someday this
day would come.
Overall, The Visitors remains to me one of the greatest songs which is reflective of
the innermost deepest darkest feelings of anyone who has ever experienced
oppression or social anxiety in the world around them. The song is a little more
negative than usual and perhaps not one of their strongest moments, rather it
reflects someone becoming resigned to their emotional weaknesses. If you want
a song about emotional strength, you should check out "When All Is Said And Done" or
"Should I Laugh Or Cry". However, as a whole, the album with the same name, released
in 1981, is full of hidden gems and lyrical masterpieces and is I believe the
centerpiece of why I believe ABBA is so under-rated for lyrics.
The song reached the top 10 on the Dance charts, in, strangely enough, of all places,
the US. It wasn't really single material, but as time has gone by it has strangely
gained recognition and become a fan-favourite. I do have to admit, I still don't know
what the ABBA members were thinking when they wrote these lyrics, or whether they had
had some kind of experience that made them able to relate to this. What remains an
even greater mystery is how they were able to transform from their early happy
energetic hits we all know and love such as "Ring Ring", and "Honey Honey" and
"Mamma Mia" to a deep dark political piece like this. Likely the mystery will remain
in the minds of the four members forever who are largely superficial when talking
about their songwriting careers, although if anything this song must be proof there
is truth in the saying "Still waters run deep."
The sound so ominously tearing through the silence
I cannot move, I'm standing
Numb and frozen
Among the things I love so dearly
The books, the paintings and the furniture
Help me...
The signal's sounding once again and someone tries the doorknob
None of my friends would be so stupidly impatient
And they don't dare to come here
Anymore now
But how I loved our secret meetings
We talked and talked in quiet voices
Smiling...
Chorus:
Now I hear them moving
Muffled noises coming through the door
I feel I'm
Crackin' up
Voices growing louder, irritation building
And I'm close to fainting
Crackin' up
They must know by now I'm in here trembling
In a terror evergrowing
Crackin' up
My whole world is falling, going crazy
There is no escaping now, I'm
Crackin' up
These walls have witnessed all the anguish of humiliation
And seen the hope of freedom glow in shining faces
And now they've come to take me
Come to break me
And yet it isn't unexpected
I have been waiting for these visitors
Help me...
(repeat chorus x3 and fadeout)
To go from such cheery catchy bright songs such as "Dancing Queen", "Take A Chance On Me"
and "Waterloo" to this? Something must have surely been up within the band. Although it
is no secret that broadly all the band members definitely had issues at the time, the
exact specifics of them were anyone's guess. What was going on within the minds of the
songwriters to write such grim, sad lyrics such as this? I now attempt to examine them
more closely, although I must stress, that this is only my interpretation and may or may
not reflect what the song was really about.
First of all, lets start with what we know about the song: It was written to reflect the
dangerous situation of political dissent in the Soviet Union at the time. This tends to
suggest the song is sung through the eyes of someone who is oppressed by the political
authority around them and is dying (perhaps with fultility) for a revolution. But to me
the song is much more than that. Where most songs would stop at just giving a broad
overview of the situation, this song actually actively describes someone in the midst of
a situation where the authoritative power(s) are about to catch up to him/her. This is
not a song about hope for freedom at all, but rather about someone who is about to meet
his/her fate and be captured by the oppressor.
The song describes the moment the authoritative power knocks on the door to capture
whoever is rebelling against their oppression. This could be reflective of what was
going on with the Soviet Union's regime of targeting dissidents who have fled the country,
tracking them down, and knocking on them door to pull them back into the USSR. The whole
song is centered about that one moment, that knock on the door, that inevitable moment
of truth. The moment when the singer realises there's no turning back, this is real,
there's no escape, they are about to be captured by their oppressor.
The lyrics "I hear the doorbell ring and suddenly the panic takes me" and "the sound so
ominously tearing through the silence" describe this moment. "I cannot move I'm standing
numb and frozen among the things I love so dearly - the books, the paintings and the
furniture" - is reflective on how someone is, perhaps for the last time, reflecting on
the things they value dearly about their current life as they know it, before they are
about to be swept away from their world forever.
The next lyrics "The signal's sounding once again and someone tries the doorknob" followed
by "None of my friends would be so stupidly impatient" further suggest how the singer is
becoming more aware of the reality of who is about to come and get him/her. "And they
don't dare to come here any more now", again a reference to his/her friends, is most
likely referring to the dangerous situation of when someone rebelling against society
has started to become actively pursued by the authorities, and the friends don't dare
to come to their house any more as they have sensed the risk of getting caught is too
high. "But how I loved our secret meetings, we talked and talked in quiet voices,
smiling" is a reference to the happy times a rebel against society has with their fellow
rebels against oppression, talking quietly in secret in the privacy of their own home,
smiling.
The chorus is basically a further reflection on the feelings the person on such a
situation of political repression must be feeling, when their ultimate moment of
fate is imminent. Lyrics such as "And I'm close to fainting" and "My whole world is
falling, going crazy, there is no escaping now I'm crackin' up", are further examples of
this. Incidentally, quite apart from what I believe is its political purpose, I
believe this song would also be a great description of feelings of social anxiety in
general, but that's another matter.
"These walls have witnessed all the anguish of humiliation" - quite simply refers to
to the feelings of the person being oppressed, of both anger and humiliation, and what
the walls could say they have witnessed this person feel ("If walls could talk...").
But most telling and startling of all I believe is the lyrics which follow "And now
they've come to take me, come to break me, and yet it isn't unexpected." And yet it
isn't unexpected? It really makes me wonder where on earth they came up with the idea
to write these lyrics. "I have been waiting for these visitors" again is startling as
it seems to suggest that the singer not only fears the oppressors who are coming to get
them, but also for some reason has been waiting for them?
Let me try to explain this further. I haven't much firsthand experience in this area
myself, but I can imagine/guess that when a person gets so wound up in the idea and
excitement of fighting against oppression, there is a certain side of him/her that almost
wants to be caught. The feeling that they almost want to become a martyr. This may
sound far fetched at first, but lets consider the life of someone who's been oppressed
by authority all their life. The idea of getting caught and having their fight against
oppression known is almost a dream come true in a way. The idea that this is no longer
a secret, that they will now get to confront their oppressor(s) head on is almost a
relief. However, it may also be a misguided feeling as undoubtedly the treatment the
dissidents of the Soviet Union went through was cruel and harsh.
Put quite simply, the feeling of "And yet it isn't unexpected" and "I have been waiting
for these visitors" is a reference to the feeling of hopelessness of the singer, a sort
of knowing that in the end they will inevitably be caught, but they want to give a shot
at living this secret, awesome, excitement-filled underground life for a while, just to
enjoy it while it lasts. But deep down somewhere, they've always known what will await
them in the end. Incidentally, a further reference to this type of feeling is expressed
in the book 1984 when the captor O'Brien says to the main character Winston when he has
just been captured in the Ministry of Love "You knew this, Winston. Don't deceive
yourself. You did know it - you have always known it" as a reference to knowing that
Winston has always known, during his time of rebellion against his oppressive society,
that his day of capture would come. The same feeling is expressed in the words
"I have been waiting for these visitors" - the "visitors" being the oppressors, the
capturers, and the victim or oppressee always having known deep down that someday this
day would come.
Overall, The Visitors remains to me one of the greatest songs which is reflective of
the innermost deepest darkest feelings of anyone who has ever experienced
oppression or social anxiety in the world around them. The song is a little more
negative than usual and perhaps not one of their strongest moments, rather it
reflects someone becoming resigned to their emotional weaknesses. If you want
a song about emotional strength, you should check out "When All Is Said And Done" or
"Should I Laugh Or Cry". However, as a whole, the album with the same name, released
in 1981, is full of hidden gems and lyrical masterpieces and is I believe the
centerpiece of why I believe ABBA is so under-rated for lyrics.
The song reached the top 10 on the Dance charts, in, strangely enough, of all places,
the US. It wasn't really single material, but as time has gone by it has strangely
gained recognition and become a fan-favourite. I do have to admit, I still don't know
what the ABBA members were thinking when they wrote these lyrics, or whether they had
had some kind of experience that made them able to relate to this. What remains an
even greater mystery is how they were able to transform from their early happy
energetic hits we all know and love such as "Ring Ring", and "Honey Honey" and
"Mamma Mia" to a deep dark political piece like this. Likely the mystery will remain
in the minds of the four members forever who are largely superficial when talking
about their songwriting careers, although if anything this song must be proof there
is truth in the saying "Still waters run deep."
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