ABBA – “Our Last Summer” (1980)

“Walks along the Seine, laughing in the rain…”

Tucked delicately into the middle of Super Trouper (1980), “Our Last Summer” is one of ABBA’s most quietly devastating songs — a lyrical postcard from a time that once was, now softened by memory and longing. Unlike the group’s glittering disco anthems or grand heartbreak ballads, this track whispers its emotions, drawing you into a personal reverie of love, youth, and impermanence.

Written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, the song was inspired by a real-life teenage romance that Björn experienced in Paris. That authenticity pulses through the lyrics: a series of vivid, almost cinematic snapshots — strolling by the Seine, sharing youthful fears, stealing moments before adulthood arrived. It’s not a love story in the traditional sense. It’s a farewell letter to a version of ourselves we once knew… and maybe still dream about.

“We had a fear of flying, of getting old, a sudden summer storm…”
— These aren’t just lyrics. They’re fragments of youth, framed in sepia.

The musical arrangement is classic late-period ABBA:

• A soft, romantic melody laced with subtle orchestration

• Warm guitar tones and mellow synths that evoke a golden-hour glow

• And of course, Agnetha and Frida’s harmonies — floating with grace, always two voices bound by shared emotion

“Our Last Summer” wasn’t released as a single in most countries, and it never topped charts like “Dancing Queen” or “The Winner Takes It All.” But over time, it has become a fan favorite — a deep cut that quietly resonates. It’s the kind of song that sneaks up on you during a reflective night or a long drive, stirring memories of a love that didn’t last, but still mattered.

 For anyone who’s ever loved and lost — not tragically, but gently — “Our Last Summer” offers comfort.
 A song for those who smile through the ache, remembering not what was lost, but what was beautiful while it lasted.

A love letter to Paris. A love letter to youth. A love letter to remembering.