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ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus has made a surprising confession about one of the band’s most beloved and emotionally charged hits. In a new interview with The Times, the Swedish music legend revealed that he was drunk on whisky when he penned the lyrics to “The Winner Takes It All,” a song that has long resonated with fans for its raw portrayal of heartbreak and emotional loss.
The 1980 ballad, which has stood the test of time as one of ABBA’s most iconic tracks, is widely regarded as a poignant reflection on the dissolution of a relationship. Though often believed to be inspired by Ulvaeus’ own split from fellow ABBA member Agnetha Fältskog, the songwriter insists it wasn’t directly personal, but he certainly tapped into a deep well of human emotion to write it.
“I wrote that song very quickly while drinking whisky during my drinking days,” Ulvaeus admitted. “I rarely wrote while intoxicated because you look at the words the next day and it’s garbage. But most of ‘The Winner Takes It All’ is actually good.”
Credit: Wikipedia
The candid revelation adds a new layer to the song’s enduring legacy. Despite not drawing from a specific personal experience, Ulvaeus said his aim was to capture “the detail of a real human pain,” something the song’s sweeping melodies and tear-streaked lyrics have done for over four decades.
Sung with heartbreaking vulnerability by Fältskog, “The Winner Takes It All” became a global hit upon release and remains one of ABBA’s most emotionally resonant performances. The song’s stark honesty and melancholy tone marked a departure from the band’s typically upbeat pop offerings and has since become a defining moment in their career.
Ulvaeus, who stopped drinking in 2007, says this song is a rare case where alcohol may have played a part in creative success. Though he acknowledges that writing under the influence usually produces subpar results, this time, the whisky-soaked session yielded something unexpectedly powerful.
As ABBA continues to experience a new wave of appreciation following the launch of their virtual concert experience “ABBA Voyage” and their return to the charts with the 2021 album Voyage, Ulvaeus’ behind-the-scenes insight into their classic hit offers fans a glimpse into the imperfect, human side of music-making, even for pop royalty.
It turns out that even in the haze of whisky, Björn Ulvaeus managed to channel a timeless truth: in love and loss, the winner truly does take it all.
