Little Things
by ABBA

Album: Voyage (2021)
Charted: 61
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Little Things" is a soothing ballad where Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog sing of the "little things" that make their Christmas a joyful one. Theirs is a family Yuletide where the husband and wife wake up on a "lovely Christmas morning." Anni-Frid and Agnetha thank their spouses for packing the stockings full of nice things and enjoy their children's excitement as they play with their new toys.

    The song ends with a children's choir reveling in some other festive "little things":

    Like the precious jewels on rings
    Or a music box that will fit in socks
    Tiny elves with wings
  • ABBA described the song as a "gentle reflection on the joy of Christmas morning and family time around this special time of year."
  • ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson wrote the festive tune. According to Bjorn, Benny didn't perceive this as a Christmas song but Bjorn said it couldn't be anything else. "It is early, early Christmas morning," he told Apple Music. "The stockings are hanging right there and then this couple wakes up."
  • "Little Things" is ABBA's first Christmas song, though they did record a New Year's song in 1980: "Happy New Year."
  • Benny Andersson played the keyboard. The other musicians were:

    Piano: Kimberley Akestar
    Flute: Pär Grebacken and Jan Bengston
    Clarinet: Pär Grebacken
    Percussion: Per Lindvall
    Children's choir: International School of Stockholm Choir
    Conductor: Kimberley Akester
  • ABBA also featured a children's choir on 1979's "I Have A Dream." That song was notable for being their first tune that had additional vocalists other than the four band members.
  • ABBA released "Little Things" as a single with all the proceeds going to UNICEF's Global Child Protection Fund. The Swedish pop group has a long history with the United Nations agency. Back in 1979, ABBA donated half the proceeds from "Chiquitita" to UNICEF.
  • Sophie Muller directed the video, which focuses on a group of school-age children creating an ABBA Voyage Christmas Special.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in Rock

Does Jimmy Page Worship The Devil? A Look at Satanism in RockSong Writing

We ring the Hell's Bells to see what songs and rockers are sincere in their Satanism, and how much of it is an act.

Trucking Songs That Were #1 Hits

Trucking Songs That Were #1 HitsSong Writing

The stories behind the biggest hit songs about trucking.

Cheerleaders In Music Videos

Cheerleaders In Music VideosSong Writing

It started with a bouncy MTV classic. Nirvana and MCR made them scary, then Gwen, Avril and Madonna put on the pom poms.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.

George Clinton

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.

Real or Spinal Tap

Real or Spinal TapMusic Quiz

They sang about pink torpedoes and rocking you tonight tonight, but some real lyrics are just as ridiculous. See if you can tell which lyrics are real and which are Spinal Tap in this lyrics quiz.