Take It Back
Otter Lyrics

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I don't wanna talk about things we've gone through,
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,

I figured it made sense, building me a fence,
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.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Otter's song "Take it Back" seem to be about a past relationship and the pain of losing it. The first verse suggests that there is nothing left to say, as both parties have played their cards and there's no more room for negotiation. The winner takes it all while the loser is left standing small beside the victory - it's a cold, hard reality that one has to accept.

The second verse reveals that the singer had once felt that they belonged with their former partner, that it made sense to build a home with them, but it was a fool's game to play by the rules. The laws of fate and chance are unpredictable, and sometimes it seems that the gods can be cruel when they take away someone dear. The chorus reinforces the idea that the winner takes it all, and the loser must fall, as it's a simple and plain truth.

However, the bridge highlights the vulnerability and nostalgia that the singer still carries for their past relationship. They ask if the new partner kisses like they used to, or if they feel the same when their name is called. Even though they must obey the rules and judges will decide who falls, the spectators of the show will always stay low, and the game will go on.

The final verse is an attempt at closure – the singer doesn't want to talk if it makes the former partner feel sad, and they apologize for their own tension and lack of self-confidence. It's a recognition that sometimes it's best to let things go and move forward.

Overall, Otter's "Take it Back" is a poignant reflection on the harsh reality of relationships, and the difficulty of letting go when it's time to move on.

Line by Line Meaning

I don't wanna talk about things we've gone through,
I don't want to discuss our past experiences together.

Though it's hurting me, now it's history.
Even though it's painful, it's now in the past.

I've played all my cards and that's what you've done too,
I've used all of my resources, just like you have.

Nothing more to say, no more ace to play.
There's nothing left to talk about or do.

The winner takes it all,
The person who comes out on top receives everything.

The loser standing small beside the victory, that's her destiny.
The person who doesn't come out on top is left with nothing.

I was in your arms thinking I belonged there,
I thought I was meant to be with you.

I figured it made sense, building me a fence,
I thought it was smart to protect myself by building walls around me.

Building me a home, thinking I'd be strong there,
I built a home, hoping to find strength and security there.

But I was a fool, playing by the rules.
I was naive, doing what I thought I was supposed to do.

The gods may throw a dice, their minds as cold as ice,
Luck can be unpredictable and uncaring.

And someone way down here loses someone dear.
Sometimes, someone far down on the totem pole suffers a great loss.

The winner takes it all, the loser has to fall,
The person who comes out on top takes everything, while the loser gets nothing.

It's simple and it's plain, why should I complain.
It's straightforward, so what's the point of complaining?

But tell me, does she kiss like I used to kiss you,
Can she replicate the same way I used to kiss you?

Does it feel the same when she calls your name.
Does it evoke the same emotions when she says your name?

Somewhere deep inside you must know I miss you,
You must realize that I still long for you.

But what can I say, rules must be obeyed.
There's nothing I can do; rules must be followed.

The judges will decide the likes of me abide,
The judges will determine if I am following the rules.

Spectators of the show always staying low.
Those watching the events don't get involved.

The game is on again, a lover or a friend,
The competition starts again, whether it's romantically or platonically motivated.

A big thing or a small, the winner takes it all.
Regardless of the size of the prize, the person who wins receives everything.

I don't wanna talk if it makes you feel sad,
I don't want to discuss things if it hurts you.

And I understand you've come to shake my hand.
I realize that you're offering peace by shaking my hand.

I apologize if it makes you feel bad seeing me so tense, no self confidence.
I'm sorry if my behavior makes you feel uncomfortable or if I lack self-assurance.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benny Goran Bror Andersson, Bjoern K Ulvaeus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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