Waterloo
by ABBA

Album: Waterloo (1974)
Charted: 1 6
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Waterloo is the place where Napoleon Bonaparte met his defeat at an epic battle in 1815. This song uses the battle as a metaphor for a woman who gives in and falls in love with a man - he's her "Waterloo."
  • Originally recorded in Swedish, it was ABBA's Swedish version that won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, giving the band a huge career boost.
  • This was one of many ABBA hits used in the 1994 movie Muriel's Wedding.
  • Even though this song constantly repeats the name of the battle that spelt the end of Napoleon's empire, the French, like the rest of Europe, were more than happy to buy this song in large quantities. The single spent 12 weeks on the French charts, peaking at #3. In Belgium, where the Battle of Waterloo took place, this song spent five weeks at #1.
  • This song also reached #1 in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland and West Germany.
  • ABBA not only recorded this song in their native Swedish and then in English but they also recorded a version in French for the French markets and one in German for the German markets. There is also a version in both French and Swedish that is an overdubbing of both the Swedish and French versions. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jerro - New Alexandria, PA, for above 2

Comments: 13

  • Seventh Mist from 7th HeavenWhen I first heard this song in 1975, Agnetha and Frida’s harmony, which often sounds like one “voice of an angel,” had me hooked. Over the years, the lyrics of some of their songs put me off as a bit too simplistic, but those voices would have made practically anything listenable.

    N from Staten Island: The four of them spoke good English from their youths and the English version was NOT recorded phonetically.
  • Ace Moonbeam from LouisianaShould have mentioned Stonewall Jackson's "Waterloo", a monster country hit in 1959, #1 for 5 weeks.
  • Sioraf from Macroon, IrelandIn fact Napoleon surrendered aboard HMS Bellerophon. Not that anybody cares...
  • Cliff from Oakdale, NyIn the mid 70's Abba was the highest profitable entity in Sweden Volvo was second
  • Doug from Chantilly, VaOne of my favorite ABBA songs... Love the outfits and Bjorn's "ZAP" guitar, although I often wondered if Bjorn had worries about his height since so many times he appears in very tall platform shoes! :-D
  • Paul from Washington Dc, DcMy friends and I used to do a line dance to this one. It's got a great beat for it. Somebody ought to cover it. I wonder how it would turn out?
  • Doug from Kansas City, Mowell when you have a great song sung by fine singers who also happen to be total babes then nothing else is needed! when I first saw the girls on Midnight special or something I noticed them right away....
  • Caitlin from Upper Township, NjWaterloo is just one of those happy, bubbly 70's love songs. Can't resist 'em!
  • Larry from Coral Springs, FlThis is the song that 1st got me to get into ABBA's Music
  • Guy from Woodinville, WaThis is one of the most upbeat pop songs ever recorded! Made me and many others a life-long ABBA fan. You go, girls!
  • John from Fort Worth, TxThis is the first song by ABBA I remember hearing in my conscious memory. I have always loved the sound of the vocal and the sound of the piano. Over my life I learned the lyrics so I could sing along. John Martin, 46, USA
  • N from Staten Island, NyWhat's great about 'Waterloo' is the Swedish-accented vocals. The group didn't speak English very well and recorded the song phonetically.
  • Alexander from Ciudad OjedaIt was the English version that won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974, not the Swedish one.
    The most famous copy of that performance is the one commented by Terry Wogan, the man who yearly comments the contest for BBC.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse Pop

He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss): A History Of Abuse PopSong Writing

Songs that seem to glorify violence against women are often misinterpreted - but not always.

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Songs About Movies

Songs About MoviesSong Writing

Iron Maiden, Adele, Toto, Eminem and Earth, Wind & Fire are just some of the artists with songs directly inspired by movies - and not always good ones.

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Dan Reed

Dan ReedSongwriter Interviews

Dan cracked the Top 40 with "Ritual," then went to India and spent 2 hours with the Dalai Lama.