My, my
At Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender
Oh, yeah
And I have met my destiny in quite a similar way
The history book on the shelf
Is always repeating itself
Waterloo
I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo
Promise to love you forevermore
Waterloo
Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo
Knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo
Finally facing my Waterloo
My, my
I tried to hold you back, but you were stronger
Oh, yeah
And now it seems my only chance is giving up the fight
And how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo
I was defeated, you won the war
Waterloo
Promise to love you for ever more
Waterloo
Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo
Knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo
Finally facing my Waterloo
So how could I ever refuse
I feel like I win when I lose
Waterloo
Couldn't escape if I wanted to
Waterloo
Knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo
Finally facing my Waterloo
Ooh-ooh, Waterloo
Knowing my fate is to be with you
Wa-Wa-Wa-Wa-Waterloo
Finally facing my Waterloo
Ooh-ooh, Waterloo...
About This Song
"Waterloo" is ABBA's breakthrough hit that uses Napoleon's famous military defeat as a clever metaphor for surrendering to love, transforming a historical moment of failure into a celebration of romantic capitulation. The lyrics playfully compare falling in love to being conquered in battle, with the narrator embracing their "defeat" and accepting their destiny to be with their beloved forever. Musically, the song features ABBA's signature pop-rock sound with driving guitars, layered harmonies, and an irresistibly catchy chorus that builds triumphantly despite the theme of surrender. The song's genius lies in its paradoxical joy-turning defeat into victory, making submission feel empowering, and creating an anthem of romantic inevitability that launched ABBA to international stardom after winning Eurovision in 1974. Its enduring appeal comes from the universal experience of being overwhelmed by love and the clever historical parallel that makes heartbreak feel epic and significant.
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