Take On Me
by a-ha

Album: Hunting High and Low (1985)
Charted: 2 1
Play Video
  • We're talking away
    I don't know what I'm to say
    I'll say it anyway
    Today is another day to find you
    Shyin' away
    Oh, I'll be comin' for your love, okay

    Take on me
    (Take on me)
    Take me on
    (Take on me)
    I'll be gone
    In a day or two

    So needless to say
    I'm odds and ends
    But I'll be stumblin' away
    Slowly learnin' that life is okay
    Say after me
    It's no better to be safe than sorry

    Take on me
    (Take on me)
    Take me on
    (Take on me)
    I'll be gone
    In a day or two

    All the things that you say, yeah
    Is it life or just to play my worries away?
    You're all the things I've got to remember
    You're shyin' away
    I'll be comin' for you anyway

    Take on me
    (Take on me)
    Take me on
    (Take on me)
    I'll be gone
    In a day
    (Take on me)
    (Take on me)
    (Take me on)
    (Take on me)
    I'll be gone
    (Take on me)
    In a day
    (Take me on)
    (Take on me)
    (Take on me)
    (Take on me)
    (Take me on)
    (Take on me)
    (Take on me)
    (Take on me) Writer/s: Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket, Pal Waaktaar
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 70

  • Glenys from AustraliaA1 also did a cover of this song as well.
  • Ricardo from Mexico CityMaybe one of the top 5 singles of the 80's. Amazing riff and song. Its one of the favourite videos of Nick Masón (Pink Floyd) because of the racing cars theme
  • 80's Child All The Way from South Carolina This is one of my favorite songs. And I'm trying to turn the younger generation onto this era of music.
  • Wanderer from Michigan, U.s.a.I'm still not sure what the song is about. All the stuff on here was awesome to read about, but other than the fact that it originally was supposed to have different lyrics, it doesn't say what the story is behind the lyrics that they did go with.
  • Sophie from BrisbaneThis song rules
  • Bill Kain from Stewart Island, NzSaw them live in Christchurch pre Covid 19 (2019 18ish). Following Rick Astley. Still got it!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1985 {October 20th} A-ha's "Take On Me" peaked at #2 {for 3 weeks} on the United Kingdom's Official Top 100 Singles chart, the three weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for those three weeks was "The Power of Love" by Jennifer Rush...
    A week earlier on October 13th "Take On Me" peaked at #1 {for 1 week} on Billboard's Top 100 chart...
    Between 1985 and 2010 the Norwegian band had twenty-five records on the UK Singles chart, nine made the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "The Sun Always Shines On TV", in 1985...
    They had three records peak at #5 on the UK Singles chart...
    And from 'For What It's Worth' department, the remainder of the UK Singles Top 10 on October 20th, 1985:
    At #3. "Trapped" by Colonel Abrams
    #4. "Gambler" by Madonna
    #5. "Miami Vice Theme" by Jan Hammer
    #6. "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" by John Parr
    #7. "Alive and Kicking" by Simple Minds
    #8. "If I Was" by Midge Ure
    #9. "Nikita" by Elton John
    #10. "Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo)" by Red Box
    Plus WOW! "Take On Me" has 1,138,414,133 views on YouTube... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djV11Xbc914
  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenAlways loved the original, but the "Deadpool" version was great, too.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn this day in 1985 {October 26th} A-ha performed "Take On Me" on the nationally syndicated television program, 'Soul Train'...
    At the time "Take On Me" was at position #3 on Billboard's Top 100 chart, the week before it had peaked at #1, and it spent just over a half-year on the Top 100 {27 weeks}...
    The Oslo, Norway group had two other Top 100 records, "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." {#20 in 1985} and "Cry Wolf" {#50 in 1986}...
    R.I.P. Don Cornelius {1936 - 2012}
  • Sam from ChinaA-ha a great 80s band, who are still singing to this day. I the UK they where not just a 1 hit wonder band.
    Take on me, The sun always shine on TV, cry wolf, the living daylights. Hunting high and low and more 18 top 40 hits , 9 top 10 hits. I think their accent was never a big problem for the UK to understand. I think they have just done another album. "2019"
  • James Gibbs from Nycone of the best of the 80s
    in America they are known as a one hit wonder
    it's a great hit to have
  • Anton from EarthSong has always had a bittersweet, poignant feel to it, with the lyric "I'll be gone in a day", almost to bringing tear to the eye. As others have said, a quintessential synthpop song and amazing video from the beginning of the music video era. I an' I always turn volume up for this one.
  • Malone from Far East, West SideYour lyrics are a bit off:
    There should be no "We're" in the first line,
    And later on it shouldn't be "I'll be stumbling away" it should be "but I'm me / stumbling away".
    Finally it shouldn't be "Is it live or", the correct lyric is "is it life or".

    Source: http://b.1339.cf/cuqnlcr.png

    As you can see their line formatting is different too, you could adopt that if you wanted to. They also don't capitalize XD

    Anyways, nice collection of information, cheers!~
  • Shandroise De Laeken from Davao City, PhilippinesSomeone asked what's that blurred out thing on the Hunting High and Low album photo - this photo shows it's a girl who moved. https://scontent-hkg3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/474525_570593362963587_131159608_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoiYiJ9
  • Shandroise De Laeken from Davao City, PhilippinesI agree with Jeff Ayeroff's comment on Morten! I'd like to be born the same year as my mama (1962) so that on 1985, I was already 23!! Morten is soooo my type!! Oh sooo handsome!! The people my age who don't know a-ha are unfortunate not to see such a LOVELY-looking man!!
  • Shandroise De Laeken from Davao City, PhilippinesAnother 90's baby here who wishes she were born back in late 70's or early 80's because songs were just GREAT then. I can't say that word about songs produced since 2005.

    I really love how most Scandinavian singers enunciate words. I love the Scandinavian English accent! Soo cool~!

    I miss those times music videos are like this! What they made is ART!
  • Sherry from Bay City,miLove the song and the video to this day. Still sing along with it whenever I hear it or see the video.
  • Marc from -, MdFirst-ever interview with the girl in this video, including what she's doing now and never-published pics: http://noblemania.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-girl-in-video-take-on-me-1985.html
  • Roann from Apalachin, NyOnce again, the ad men proved they are no longer creative. Not only did VW "steal" the song but they also "borrowed" the video. Such a shame!
  • Kent from Greensburg, PaNow THIS is what a music video SHOULD be! What ever happened to the art of the video? The last great videos played on MTV and VH1 that were just as creative and memorable and not just a bunch of back up dancers were Beyonce's 'Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It), and Cee Lo's 'Forget You.'
  • Megan from Stevenson, AlThis song is amazing! WOW! God, I wish I grew up in the 80s!!! WHY?!?! This is how you do it!
  • Camille from Toronto, OhOh, just one more thing: the song went to #1 in 27 countries!!! Amazing!!!
  • Camille from Toronto, OhThis video defined the MTV generation. Everything about it is memorable: the instantly recognizable keyboard opening, the high notes, the animation. The word order of the title: Take On Me, adds to the uniqueness. I agree with the comments of Bertrand from Paris, France~great quality combining song with video. Definitely one of the best all-time videos and love to hear it when it comes on the radio, it never gets old.
  • Rick from Mason City, IaA-Ha continues to put out great "Synthpop" oriented music today....www.adifferentdrum.com carries their latest releases.
    What can you say about Take on Me? I can still hit the high notes.....but may need a punch in the Jims to get there nowadays!
  • Jorges from Oaxaca, Mexicoif someone ask for an example of one representative song of contemporany pop 80's 90's Take on Me and its video is one of the best fit.
  • Hannah from Gustavus, OhAn interesting note about this song - "Take on me" translates literally into Norwegian as an idiomatic phrase for "Touch me." So it's possible the song should be "Touch Me," although not likely, as A-Ha had visited England before and this song was produced by an English-speaking producer.
  • Ashley from Chawton,hampshire,england, United KingdomA Classic song and video one of the best of the 1980's,and one that I keep coming back as it's SO,SO Catchy!!!and is imprinted in my Mind.When I play the video/song I must say my eyes are usually not dry by the end of it!!!the girl in the video(bunty bailey)is ABSOLUTETLY Stunning and it's not surprising that her and Morten where dating each other at the time.
  • Paul from Washington Dc, DcThe video always reminded me of Speed Racer, my favorite animated series when I was a little kid in the '60's.
  • Mimzy from Salem, Orbest pop song ever made! and best video too.
  • James from Chicopee, MaWow, I love this song and can't stop listening to it... Lol I love the pipe wrench fight in the music video.
  • Rob from Glasgow, United Kingdomyep 198.000 paying customers at rock in rio 2(GUINNESS WORLD RECORD),over 40 million albums sold, maybe more to date,James Bond sound track,THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON TV reached number 5 in the AMERICAN dance singles chart,first norwegian band to hit number 1 in AMERICA,it goes on and on .One hit wonders eh.
  • Kevin from Birmingham, United KingdomBoy Band A1 did a cover of this in 2000 on their album A1 The A List
  • Katie from Fairfield, OhTHIS SONG IS BEAST!!!!!!!... NUFF SAID.

    BUT, when I was in the 8th grade, me and my friends used to sing this and it would get on the teachers nerves. It was SO funny.

    I wasn't even born in the 80's! Nor did I grow up in them! That's how BEASTLY the 80's are.

    <3 that shiat.
  • Victoria from Memphis, TnThe best 80's song EVER!
  • Eugene from Minneapolis, MnDon't mean to be funny or anything, but these guys are one hit wonders. Let me tell you why.I am willing to bet that the average person in the US of A remembers A-ha for only "Take On Me" along with their wicked video. Sad but true. I personally I like their other singles such as "Cry Wolf" (which I bump rather loudly on my car stereo) & "The Sun Always Shines on TV" much more than "Take On Me", really.
  • Malena from Monterrey, Mexicocan´t believe it...........23 years have passed and still feel the same why as i did when i was 22 years old in collage....love it
  • Mitchell from Adelaide, Australia God, I wish I was alive in the 80's women were so my type back then, now they're all like 40 and 50 and old and wrinkly :(
  • Crystal from Fort Worth, TxThis is just an idea, but maybe they were tlking about a girl who wasn't very open who always put on a front, even towards a certain boy...

    Again, just an idea....
  • Audrey from Laurel, MdTake on Me: an amazing tribute and excellent representain of the forgein industry of musical europe, painted with talented falsetto vocal skills, and amazingly well designed graphic sound.
  • Janush from London, United KingdomI met Bunty (her real name is Therese) when she was a dancer for the Monte Carlo Show in the summer casino in Monaco in the early 80's - I guess you could say we had a weekend fling type thing. She told me she lied about her age to get the dancing gig (she was only 16) and only did it to get her Equity card. One weekend her mother was in town (she was quite a looker) and we all went out to dinner at the "Bistroquet" restaurant where this charming older guy sort of joined us and ended up doing the tango with Bunty's mum through the restaurant and telling brilliant jokes. He was one of the funniest and charismatic people I had ever met. I didn't really see much of Bunty after that as I think she left Monaco. I discovered the next day that the guy was Richard Burton, the actor. I wonder if she ever found out herself.
  • Chris from Houston, TxDuran Duran did the Bond theme "View to a Kill". It was the last Bond file with Roger Moore and the ONLY bond theme to hit #1. "Live and let die" only hit #2.
  • Brett from Tampa, FlA wonderful blend of a great melody and words. This song's music video took the states by storm in 1985. I hadn't seen it in years but recently I joined a gym here in Tampa. They have an in house station on TV that plays music and music videos and I have now seen the A-Ha video twice in the past few weeks. I am reminded of how cutting edge it was and what a terrific blend of fantasy and music it was. Many young people working out near me saw my enthusiasm and asked about it, especially the meaning behind the use of comic book characters and reality. I recently loaded their hit song "Take on Me" on my IPod and enjoy this great sound once again.
  • Bertrand from Paris, FranceWhen the topic of this song (or the Norwegian band that recorded it) comes up, most music fans tend to associate the groundbreaking animated music video most strongly. Or maybe they make fun of the falsetto lead vocals that threaten to break glass items in kitchen cabinets halfway across town. But in reality, the most notable aspect of this No. 1 hit is not even its unforgettable keyboard opening but its overall quality from start to finish. American listeners probably never figured out exactly what these particular Scandinavians were singing about, but most of us knew transcendent pop when we heard it.
  • Jamey from Montgomery, AlDoes anyone know what is going on on the cover of this album (Hunting High And Low)? I've never been able to figure out what is going on and what that blurred thing is. Anyone have any ideas?
  • Dave from Cardiff, WalesA-Ha had 12 Top 20 hits in the UK between 1985 and 1990 - "Take On Me", "The Sun Always Shines On TV", "Train Of Thought", "Hunting High And Low", "You Are The One", "Cry Wolf", "Manhattan Skyline", "Touchy!", "The Living Daylights", "The Blood That Moves The Body", "Stay On These Roads" and "Crying In The Rain", and after 1990 they went on to have a few 'lesser' hits as well
  • Helen from Leeds, EnglandAs far as i remember aha had a few hits in england.Cry wolf, Hunting high and low, The living daylights as well as take on me and the sun always shines on tv.Def not a one hit wonder band.Only last year they were on top of the pops over here.I love aha and Morten is still rather sexy!
  • Brandon from Peoria, IlI thought The Living Daylights was Duran Duran
  • Marianne from Baton Rouge, LaI don't care what people say this is one of the greatest videos ever made. And no one will ever top it.
  • John from Boston, MaRegarding the one hit wonder stuff; I think a band can be considered a one hit wonder if they have a #1 song like this one that is immediately followed by a lesser hit. I don't really consider #50 to be enough to take a band off one-hit wonder status. "Sun Always Shines on TV" was big enough to cause debate on the matter.

    Anyway, why do people act as if being called a "one hit wonder" is a bad thing?
  • Douglas from WaterlooI personally don't see how a-ha could be considered a one-hit wonder. I mean, they did a Bond song, or has everyone forgotten The Living Daylights?
  • Carlos from Lima, PeruThis is a great song, maybe the lyrics aren't so extraordinary, but the music is simply gorgeous. In my country other 3 A-ha songs struck, they're Maybe Maybe, You're the One (for me just as goos as TOM) and Cry Wolf. Great band.
  • James from Alpharetta, Gai love and hate this song. whenever i hear it i'm 19 again and back in college. no other song puts me back in a moment like this song. maybe it was the animation. it reminds me of those old times, and makes me sad that they are gone. if they were one-hit wonders, what great one-hit wonders they were. thank you a-ha.
  • Penny from Geelong, AustraliaLove a-ha and have been a fan since I was 13!! Yeah a-ha may have been a one hit wonder in Australia but a-ha have always been an underrated band! The boys have other songs that are far better than 'Take on me'

    Wish Oz radio stations would play other a-ha songs besides T.O.M!! I think people from Oz would really appreciate the band more if they knew about a-ha's new album 'Analogue'! A-ha are more than just an 80's band!
  • Penny from Geelong, AustraliaLove a-ha and have been a fan since I was 13 yo. 33 now!! Yeah a-ha may have been a one hit wonder in Australia...but a-ha have always been an underrated band!! I think a-ha have written some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard ...yes other songs that are so much better than 'Take on Me'!
  • Jared from Pacific, MoWeebl and Bob, a web cartoon, also spoofed this song, with hilarious results. You can find it at http://www.weebls-stuff.com/wab/paper/
  • Nathan from L-burg, KyHas anyone noticed the top 3 A-Ha hits begin with the letter 'T'
    Take on me,The Sun Always Shines On TV , And Touchy
  • Spencer from Los Angeles, CaiTunes has 8 a-ha videos, none of which are "Take On Me." What's up with that? I love this song, and that Family Guy spoof was hilarious.
  • Matthew from East Brunswick, NjGreat song. Brilliant spoof by Family Guy. Love it.
  • Richard from Mound, MnOn the contrary, a-ha were NOT one-hit wonders here in the US. Take On Me did go to number one but what alot of people don't realize is that they again cracked the Top 40 with 'The Sun Always Shines on TV' which peaked at #20. Not to mention 'Cry Wolf' which hit #50. Now to me, that seems more like just one-hit. VH1 helped support this lie with their one-hit wonder countdown.
  • Ane from Indre Sogn, NorwayA-ha released their new single last week. It's called 'Celice' and it's both catchy and classy.
  • James from Edmonton, CanadaI love this song and this video, also, am I the only one who thinks Bunty Bailey is very pretty in this video?
  • Dee from Indianapolis, InA-HA, what a contemporary video for it's time and is still considered one of the top 10 of all time. I have caught the spoof on Family Guy and it was a riot. I feel these guys could have done better in the states if more of their music had gotten radio play off future albums. That seems to happen to many a great band out there, but we are a society of instant gratification instead of one which listens to what could be.
  • Bert from Pueblo, Nmanyone catch the spoof of this music video on Family Guy?
  • Rob from St Davids, WalesGreat keyboard solo in it. But the bands name is ****! That high note is too high for me to sing. Belive me I have tried!
  • Kat from Tbilisi, OtherBrilliant song
  • Anastasia from Anaheim, CaThe ska band, Reel Big Fish redid this song. this song was seriously meant for ska. it's awesome. check it out..
  • Pete from Nowra, Australiaone hit wonder in Australia
  • Skuld from ReykjavÃ?k , IcelandThis song is in fact only a one hit wonder in the US. a-ha are currently writing for their 8th studio album and have a contract for two additional albums with Warner Music. They were massively popular in Europe and South America during the 80's and the early 90's.
  • Annabelle from Eugene, OrI Love this song! And I Love This Band! I'd be excited and jumping with joy to meet them when I go to Norway!
  • Sebastian from Munich, Germanymy all-time favorite song, even before i knew the video, even more so after i knew it. damn i love the 80ties
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