ABBA – “One of Us” (1981)

The Sound of a Love That Can’t Be Repaired

By the time “One of Us” was released in 1981, ABBA was no longer the carefree, glitter-drenched pop group the world had fallen in love with. Their final studio album, The Visitors, carried a noticeably darker, more introspective tone — and this song stands as one of its most emotionally resonant moments.

 Written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the lyrics are steeped in heartbreak, regret, and the painful clarity that only comes after a love has unraveled. Though Björn and Benny often wrote from imagined perspectives, it’s impossible to ignore the song’s connection to real-life events: both couples in ABBA had divorced by this time, and that emotional weight lingers over every line.
The story told in “One of Us” is familiar and haunting — about someone who walked away from a relationship, only to realize too late that they made a mistake.
“One of us is crying… one of us is lying in her lonely bed…”
It’s a song about missed chances, silence where love once lived, and the irreversible nature of some decisions.

The heartbreak becomes even more piercing thanks to Agnetha Fältskog’s vocal performance. Her voice carries the ache of a woman reflecting on what’s lost, but without dramatics — just quiet sadness. It’s one of her most restrained and personal deliveries, and that intimacy makes it all the more powerful.

Musically, “One of Us” trades disco sparkle for something more subdued — a mix of somber melodies, subtle synth textures, and a Scandinavian chill that perfectly suits the theme. It’s pop, but not for the dancefloor; this is pop made for dim rooms and reflective hearts.

 While “Dancing Queen” will forever be their anthem of joy, “One of Us” shows the other side of ABBA — the grown-up, weathered side that understood love doesn’t always work out, no matter how beautiful it once was. It’s not just a song about a breakup — it’s about the loneliness of realizing that some doors, once closed, never reopen.

“One of Us” is more than just a track on their last album — it’s a quiet farewell, delivered not with fireworks, but with truth, tenderness, and a final tear