Meaning of “My Mama Said” by ABBA
“My Mama Said” is a song recorded by the legendary Swedish pop group ABBA. The lyrics of the song are mainly about the grudges a young girl has against her mother who tries to control her and prevent her from living the life she wants to live.
You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for ABBA's My Mama Said at Lyrics.org.
In the lyrics, the girl’s mother strongly reprimands her for a number of things, including trying to sneak out without making her bed and going to see a boy named “Fred” who is apparently the girl’s boyfriend.
The mother later gets so fed up with her daughter’s wild behaviors that she tells her to go on and hurt her if she wants to.
“I suppose you’d rather see me dead” are the last words the mother says to her daughter, who insists on being left alone to live her life the way she wants to live it.
Facts about “My Mama Said”
- The song was co-written by ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The song’s production was also handled by the pair. Andersson and Ulvaeus wrote all of the group’s biggest hits.
- The song’s dual vocals were sung by ABBA members Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog.
- The song has a total length of 3 minutes and 14 seconds.
- The song was the 5th track on ABBA’s second studio album titled Waterloo which came out on March 4th, 1974. The album peaked at number 28 on the UK Albums Chart. On the US Billboard 200, the album peaked at number 145.
- “My Mama Said” wasn’t released as a single and therefore didn’t enter into any singles chart.
- This song, which is one of the lesser known songs by ABBA, is considered by many to be one of the group’s most underrated songs.
- No music video was shot for this song.
