The Name Of The Game Lyrics
I found this quote in the book 1000 UK Number One Hits by Jon Kutner & Spencer Leigh: "Benny & Bjorn were both admirers of Stevie Wonder and had been listening to his then-current album Songs In The Key Of Life. In May 1977, just a few weeks after completing their world tour, they began work on a new song, with a working title ‘A Bit Of Myself’. The bass line was reminiscent of a slowed down version of Stevie Wonder’s ‘I Wish’. This formed the nucleus and the rest of the song was then built up as a six-part harmony structure, which was a new idea Benny employed. When Stig (Anderson) heard the backing track, he suggested ‘The Name Of The Game’ as the song’s new title."
So this song is about someone falling in love with their shrink (or someone in a similarly inappropriate position), right? She's had others before but "no one ever could reach" her, and now she's finally found someone who can get her to open up, get in touch with her feelings and show "what she's trying to conceal" only she ends up falling in love with him or her, because she's so isolated. And she's hoping (against hope) it might be reprocicated.
I like the whole "If I trust in you, would you let me down? Would you laugh at me, if I said I care for you?" It just shows how vulnerable she is.
@llrcnrd I think it doesn't necessarily mean that exactly, but I can imagine how these lyrics would resonate to someone effectively falling in love for their therapist.
@llrcnrd I think it doesn't necessarily mean that exactly, but I can imagine how these lyrics would resonate to someone effectively falling in love for their therapist.
This is a woman who is starting to date someone new (it's only been a week). She's starting to fall pretty hard, but it's so early in the relationship that she's not sure where they are at. She's naturally a shy person and scared of her feelings and of sharing them. What's the name of the game: is it love or something else?
According to the ABBA biography, Name of the Game is about someone seeing a therapist, but deliberately written in such way as can be open to other interpretations. I think it succeeds in this very well. The best songs aren't necessarily clear in their meaning but can be taken to heart in whatever way is meaningful to the listener. Personally I think of it as someone confiding in a new friend, opening up and thus forming a deep connection and feelings of intimacy. The speaker wonders if the friend feels it too and asks "where's this headed, or what's the name of the game?"
I love so much Abba choruses, and Christmas songs, during the holiday season..
this song is about a woman having a crush on her therapist. its been suggested its about agnetha having a crush on her therapist but why would Bjorn write a song like that? Oh well, John Lennon let Paul McCartney write a song about his son and Yoko Ono (Hey Jude) so who knows?