Knowing Me, Knowing You by ABBA

Album: Arrival (1976)

Charted: 1 14

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Songfacts®:

Bjorn Ulvaeus of ABBA wrote this song at a time when the relationships within the group were strained, and his lyric reflects that. He was married to ABBA singer Agnetha Fältskog; his bandmates Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were also married.

Agnetha and Anni-Frid handle the lead vocals, singing about walking though an empty house in the aftermath of a split. Both couples ended up getting divorced a few years later, with Bjorn and Agnetha parting ways in 1980, and Benny and Anni-Frid calling it quits a few years later.

Said Ulvaeus: "I think I wrote 'Knowing Me Knowing You' before the divorce. In many ways, Agnetha and my divorce was an amicable one, we just grew apart and decided let's split up. Benny and Frida's was a little more difficult. It was not a happy time but still very creative."
"Knowing Me, Knowing You" has that signature ABBA pop sound with an undeniable chorus, but it tackles some serious subject matter (divorce), which they didn't do very often to this point. The song was released as a single from their fourth album, Arrival, and went to #1 in the UK and a few other territories, including Ireland and Mexico. The global smash from the album was "Dancing Queen," their only American #1.
After Bjorn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog separated, Bjorn wrote another divorce song, "The Winner Takes It All," which became a big hit for the group in 1980. That song isn't entirely about their split, but it was still a little awkward for Agnetha, who had to sing a divorce song written by her ex-husband.

Comments: 15

Tshioma from Shayandima , Limpopo Province , South AfricaPainful truth !
Rabbi Meyer from Central WisconsinThe ultimate Swedish break-up song!
Seventhmist from 7th HeavenThe notes are correct that this was a turning point, being a darker song than anything they had previously released.
Khalid from NigeriaI was stuck on the lyrics for days. ABBA, eccentric!
Tc from Uk'Walking through an empty house, tears in my eyes'.
So sad, so simply genius!
Scott from Halifax, NsThe great Elvis Costello used to perform Knowing Me, Knowing You in concert and he has called it the best song ever written about divorce.
Dane from Green Cove Springs Fla., FlA harmony masterpiece.Very complex.Yet another song I've always loved.
Peterm from Birmingham, United KingdomMarried in '76, so the lyrics not really relevant to us at the time....but a good song anyway.
Gerry from Swindon, United KingdomThis song haunts me even now some 33 years later I split with my first girfriend in 77 and for the first time in my life I knew how love could actually hurt. She was back a week or two later and we actually kept going unti 1983. But the melody is so perfectly haunting
Guy from Woodinville, WaLove the poignancy of this song. "In these old familiar rooms, children would play..." And the great background vocals dancing about--very sophisticated, like something the Beatles would take on.
Kate from Austin , TxI love how Abba stands still in all of their videos and live appearances and look so focused on their music. If you never saw any videos you would never know they seem to be really concentrating hard. I love Abba...
Martin from London, United KingdomDespite the song's subject, it is not autobiographical in any sense, as the two couples in ABBA were still happily married at this point (early 1977). Agnetha and Björn did not get divorced until 1979. Now, The Winner Takes It All was certainly based on the experiences of divorce.
Jerro from New Alexandria, PaTo Guy: you made a small error. Agnetha was married to Björn, not Benny. Despite your error on who was married to who, I do understand your point.
Guy from Wellington, New ZealandBelieve it or not my understanding is that this was actually written by ABBA about the breakup of Agnetha and Benny. Incredible to think that they could maintain sufficient distance on the personal stuff as they wrote and recorded the song. It seems much more gut wrenching in this respect than the 'your fault, no, your fault' songs in Rumours (Fleetwood Mac).
David from Flushing, MiMarshall Crenshaw does a great and very faithful version of this song on his live album My Truck is my Home. It is clear that he is an ABBA fan.

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