Released: April 2, 2002

Songwriter: Morten Harket Magne Furuholmen

Producer: Stephen Hague Martin Landquist

You know the way
You've been before
I've seen the signs
Outside your door
You set the rules
The bitter days
Can't be ignored

It's just the same
Just like before
You wanted more

I love the sun
I love the rain
You gave it up
But all in vain
I love the way
It was before
So bittersweet
To be adored

We had it all
You let it go
You wanted more

But in the end
What is a friend
If not someone
To help pretend?
Remember me
You know my name
I'm still the same

But not for you
That's not enough
You wanted more

I love the sun
I love the rain
You gave it up
But all in vain
You couldn't change
You know the score
So bittersweet
To be adored

We had it all
You gave it up
You wanted more

We had it all
You gave it up
You wanted more

But in the end
What is a friend?

You loved the way
It used to be
The way you are
You and me
You came too late
You left too soon
Just like the rings
Around the moon

We had it all
You let it go
You wanted more

We had it all
You gave it up
You wanted more

​a-ha

A-ha is a Norweigian synth pop group formed in 1982. All ten of their studio albums have either reached #1 or #2 in Norway – the first three also reaching the top 10 in several countries across Europe – with a total of over 35 million sold worldwide. They became a ‘teen pin-up band’ and were followed by screaming, enthusiastic fans. In 2012, all three members were appointed to knighthood in Norway for their contributions to music.

Frontman Morten Harket was lured away from the blues/soul group Soldier Blue in 1982 by keyboardist Magne Furuholmen to join his band with guitarist Paul Waaktaar. When Harket saw a song in Waaktaar’s notebook that was going to be titled either “a-ha” or “A-hem”, he suggested naming the band “a-ha”.

A year later, the band released their debut single “Take On Me” in 1984 to huge success in Norway. However, when the song was re-recorded and re-released alongside their debut album Hunting High And Low in the summer of 1985 it achieved massive international success, reaching #1 in eleven countries. Its success was definitely aided by its groundbreaking, award-winning music video of pencil-sketch animation combined with live-action shots.