Merry-go-round
ABBA Lyrics


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I have tried in vain never had success
So it seems my life is nothing but a mess
I have lost my only friend
Now it seems I have to start again

Merry-go-round
Where am I bound
With my love and feelings
Merry-go-round

Who wants to kiss me
And hug me and miss me
Yes, who wants to do it
I wish that I knew it

Merry-go-round
Wish I had found
Somebody to care for
Where am I bound

Life is so lonely
If life is just only
To love with my loving
Goes round and round

Looking for someone
Who would want to stay
I might find her
With a bit of luck one day

But who knows
So until then
I can only try and try again

Merry-go-round
Where am I bound
With my love and feelings
Merry-go-round

Who wants to kiss me
And hug me and miss me
Yes, who wants to do it
I wish that I knew it

Merry-go-round
Wish I had found
Somebody to care for
Where am I bound

Life is so lonely
If life is just only
To love with my loving
Goes round and round

Merry-go-round
Where am I bound
With my love and feelings
Merry-go-round

Who wants to kiss me
And hug me and miss me
Yes, who wants to do it
I wish that I knew it

Merry-go-round
Wish I had found
Somebody to care for
Where am I bound

Life is so lonely
If life is just only




To love with my loving
Goes round and round

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of ABBA's song "Merry-Go-Round" convey a sense of hopelessness and solitude. The singer laments about how they have tried and never succeeded, leading their life to become a mess. They have lost their only friend and find themselves having to start again. The metaphor of a merry-go-round is used to express the cyclical nature of the singer's search for love and companionship. They are desperately searching for someone to care for, yearning to be kissed, hugged, and missed, but not knowing who will fulfill these desires. Life seems lonely as it goes round and round, and the singer expresses a longing to find someone who will stick around.


Despite the somber tone of the lyrics, the music of the song is upbeat and somewhat contradicts the sadness expressed in the lyrics. The bouncy electronic melody is catchy and almost playful, adding a layer of complexity to the song's mood. The chorus repeats itself multiple times, emphasizing the cyclical nature of the singer's struggles.


Overall, "Merry-Go-Round" is a poignant expression of loneliness and the often frustrating search for love and companionship. The song highlights the human need for connection and the hardships faced when trying to form and maintain relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

I have tried in vain never had success
I've been attempting to succeed but haven't achieved it


So it seems my life is nothing but a mess
As a result, I feel like my life is chaotic and disorganized


I have lost my only friend
The only person I considered to be my friend is gone


Now it seems I have to start again
It appears that I need to begin anew


Merry-go-round
Life feels like a never-ending cycle of ups and downs


Where am I bound
I'm unsure of where I'm going or what I want


With my love and feelings
My emotions and feelings guide my actions


Who wants to kiss me
I desire affection from another person


And hug me and miss me
I want someone to hold me and think about me when we're apart


Yes, who wants to do it
I'm searching for someone who wants to express physical affection


I wish that I knew it
I hope to find out who is interested in intimacy


Wish I had found
I regret not discovering


Somebody to care for
A person who values and loves me for who I am


Life is so lonely
I feel isolated and alone


If life is just only
If all there is to life is


To love with my loving
To experience love and give love in return


Goes round and round
It feels like I'm stuck in a loop, constantly searching for love


Looking for someone
I'm seeking a person


Who would want to stay
Someone who would choose to remain by my side


I might find her
There's a possibility that I'll meet someone special


With a bit of luck one day
If I'm fortunate, I'll encounter this person eventually


But who knows
There's really no way to predict the future


So until then
Meanwhile, in the meantime


I can only try and try again
I'll continue to make an effort to find love




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STIG ERIK LEOPOLD ANDERSON, BENNY GORAN BROR ANDERSSON, BJOERN K. ULVAEUS

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