Papetti became well known for all the years '60 and '70, and all his new album reaches the top of the hit parade; he was also printed in all the Latin American market. During the period of greatest splendour, the '70s, Papetti also produced two collections a year, the best-selling being the 20th one, which came up first in 1975.
The Winner Takes It All
Fausto Papetti Lyrics
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Though it's hurting me, now it's history.
I've played all my cards and that's what you've done too,
Nothing more to say, no more ace to play.
The winner takes it all,
The loser standing small beside the victory, that's her destiny.
I was in your arms thinking I belonged there,
Building me a home, thinking I'd be strong there,
But I was a fool, playing by the rules.
The gods may throw a dice, their minds as cold as ice,
And someone way down here loses someone dear.
The winner takes it all, the loser has to fall,
It's simple and it's plain, why should I complain.
But tell me, does she kiss like I used to kiss you,
Does it feel the same when she calls your name.
Somewhere deep inside you must know I miss you,
But what can I say, rules must be obeyed.
The judges will decide the likes of me abide,
Spectators of the show always staying low.
The game is on again, a lover or a friend,
A big thing or a small, the winner takes it all.
I don't wanna talk if it makes you feel sad,
And I understand you've come to shake my hand.
I apologize if it makes you feel bad seeing me so tense, no self confidence.
The Winner Takes It All by Fausto Papetti is a powerful song about the pain of a failed relationship and the ensuing struggle for power between the two parties involved. The songwriter expresses reluctance to revisit the past and the heartache it brings, and recognizes the finality of his relationship. He likens the dynamics of their relationship to a game where each played their cards, with the winner taking everything and the loser being left to deal with the consequences, standing small beside the winner's victory. The song describes the anguish of the loser as they reflect on the love they once shared, and their loss.
The songwriter also acknowledges the fickle nature of fate, and how it can change one's circumstances in an instant. In the second verse, he describes how he had built his life around his relationship with his partner, thinking he belonged with her, only to realize too late that he had been playing by someone else's rules. He recognizes that the gods control everything and sometimes throw a dice, with someone way down here losing someone dear.
In the last verse, the songwriter is willing to let the past remain the past but is unable to hide his feelings. He questions if his former partner kisses the same way he used to kiss her, and if it feels the same when she calls his name. The singer knows that he still loves her but recognizes that there is no chance of them getting back together. He ends the song by apologizing for any harm he may have caused and expressing his uncertainty and lack of self-confidence regarding the future.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna talk about things we've gone through,
I want to avoid discussing our shared experiences
Though it's hurting me, now it's history.
Despite the emotional pain it causes me, it's now in the past
I've played all my cards and that's what you've done too,
I've exhausted all my options, as have you
Nothing more to say, no more ace to play.
There's no more to be said, no more trump cards to use
The winner takes it all,
The victor claims everything
The loser standing small beside the victory, that's her destiny.
The defeated are left feeling insignificant next to the winner
I was in your arms thinking I belonged there,
I felt secure and accepted in your embrace
I figured it made sense, building me a fence,
I thought creating boundaries would be logical
Building me a home, thinking I'd be strong there,
I believed that establishing a home would give me strength
But I was a fool, playing by the rules.
However, I was naïve for following the expected standards
The gods may throw a dice, their minds as cold as ice,
Chance events can be merciless and unpredictable
And someone way down here loses someone dear.
Someone distant and unknown suffers a personal loss
The winner takes it all, the loser has to fall,
The victor wins everything, leaving the defeated with nothing
It's simple and it's plain, why should I complain.
This outcome is straightforward, so there's no point in complaining
But tell me, does she kiss like I used to kiss you,
But I'm curious, does she kiss you the same way I did?
Does it feel the same when she calls your name.
Are the emotions you feel when she says your name the same?
Somewhere deep inside you must know I miss you,
You must know, deep down, that I still miss you
But what can I say, rules must be obeyed.
But I'm resigned to the fact that we must follow society's norms
The judges will decide the likes of me abide,
The authorities will determine if I comply with their expectations
Spectators of the show always staying low.
Audience members remain uninvolved and passive
The game is on again, a lover or a friend,
The competition has resumed, this time for either romantic or platonic love
A big thing or a small, the winner takes it all.
Regardless of the stakes, the victor claims everything
I don't wanna talk if it makes you feel sad,
I don't want to talk if it causes you emotional pain
And I understand you've come to shake my hand.
I know you're here to offer a handshake
I apologize if it makes you feel bad seeing me so tense, no self confidence.
I'm sorry if my nervousness and lack of confidence distresses you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K Ulvaeus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind