Our Last Summer
ABBA Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The feeling right, the Paris night
Did it's best to please us
And strolling down the Elysee
We had a drink in each cafe
And you
You talked of politics, philosophy and I
Smiled like Mona Lisa
It was a fine and true romance
I can still recall our last summer
I still see it all
Walks along the Seine, laughing in the rain
Our last summer
Memories that remain
We made our way along the river
And we sat down in the grass
By the Eiffel tower
I was so happy we had met
It was the age of no regret
Oh yes
Those crazy years, that was the time
Of the flower-power
But underneath we had a fear of flying
Of getting old, a fear of slowly dying
We took the chance
Like we were dancing our last dance
I can still recall our last summer
I still see it all
In the tourist jam, round the Notre Dame
Our last summer
Walking hand in hand
Paris restaurants
Our last summer
Morning croissants
Living for the day, worries far away
Our last summer
We could laugh and play
And now you're working in a bank
A family man, a football fan
And your name is Harry
How dull it seems
Yet you're the hero of my dreams
I can still recall our last summer
I still see it all
Walks along the Seine, laughing in the rain
Our last summer
Memories that remain
I can still recall our last summer
I still see it all
In the tourist jam, 'round the Notre Dame
Our last summer
Walking hand in hand
Paris restaurants
Our last summer
Morning croissants (we were)
Living for the day, worries far away
ABBA's song "Our Last Summer" is a nostalgic ode to a past love affair that the singer shared with a man named Harry. The song speaks of the memories that remain of their trip to Paris during the summer of their youth. The singer recalls the Parisian nights that were warm and soft, with each café they visited seeming to outdo the other. The city was doing its best to please them both, as they strolled around, with Harry speaking of philosophy and politics, while the singer smiled like Mona Lisa. It was a fine and true romance that they shared, and the song leaves an impression of regret that it could not last longer.
The song describes how they made their way along the river, and how they eventually found themselves sitting on the grass, by the Eiffel tower. The singer was so happy they had met, and acknowledges that they were living in the age of no regret. The era was of flower power, but the pair, though enjoying the free-spirited times, were still frightened of getting old and dying slowly. However, in that moment, they took the chance and danced their last dance together. The happy memories they shared remained with them.
The last verse of the song is a description of how Harry is now working in a bank, with a family and a love for football. He seems dull, but the singer remembers him as the hero of their dreams. The chorus repeats itself, with a reminder of the memories that the two shared, of walks along the Seine, of laughing in the rain, and of living for the day with worries far away.
Line by Line Meaning
The summer air was soft and warm
The weather was perfect for a summer night in Paris
The feeling right, the Paris night
We felt like everything was falling into place while enjoying the Parisian nightlife
Did it's best to please us
The city of Paris went above and beyond to make our experience amazing
And strolling down the Elysee
Taking leisurely walks along the famous Elysee avenue
We had a drink in each cafe
Taking advantage of Paris' reputation for amazing cafes by visiting several of them and enjoying drinks
And you
Referring to a specific person with whom the singer spent their time in Paris
You talked of politics, philosophy and I
The person and the singer had deep conversations about topics such as politics and philosophy
Smiled like Mona Lisa
The artist had a look of contentment and enjoyed the company of the other person
We had our chance
The trip to Paris was a special opportunity for the two people to spend time together
It was a fine and true romance
Overall, the feelings and experiences shared between the two people were genuine and meaningful
We made our way along the river
Walking by the Seine river, a romantic location in Paris
And we sat down in the grass
Taking a short break from walking and sitting on the grass in a public area by the Eiffel Tower
I was so happy we had met
The singer was grateful to have met the other person and to have shared these experiences with them
It was the age of no regret
They were young and free and had no regrets about the choices they made
Oh yes
Conveying strong agreement with the previous statement
Those crazy years, that was the time
Referring to the past as a time of excitement and adventure
Of the flower-power
The artist is referencing the hippy culture prevalent in the late 60s and early 70s
But underneath we had a fear of flying
Although they enjoyed life in the moment, they had an underlying fear of long-term consequences
Of getting old, a fear of slowly dying
The fear of ageing and the inevitability of death lurking in the background of their carefree days
We took the chance
Despite those fears, they took the chance to enjoy each other's company and to live in the moment
Like we were dancing our last dance
They lived as if they were enjoying their last moments without fear of the future and uncertainty of what is coming next
Paris restaurants
Visiting and gathering in some of the remarkable restaurants in Paris
Our last summer
Recalling the most recent summer spent together in Paris, the final one of their youthful days
Morning croissants
Starting a new day with freshly baked croissants
Living for the day, worries far away
Being carefree and living in the moment without worrying about the future
We could laugh and play
Enjoying time together, laughing and having fun as friends or as a romantic pair
And now you're working in a bank
A reference to the present, where the other person is employed as a banker
A family man, a football fan
The other person has a family and enjoys football, which is a sharp contrast to their previous lifestyle
And your name is Harry
The other person's name is revealed to be Harry
How dull it seems
The singer laments at the contrast between the carefree days of youth and the mundane life of an adult
Yet you're the hero of my dreams
Despite their new lifestyle, the singer still holds Harry in high regard and sees him as their hero
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K. Ulvaeus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind