Released: May 3, 1988

Songwriter: Pål Waaktaar-Savoy

Producer: Alan Tarney

You'll end up crying
With your mother's eyes
Pretend you can't see yourself
Could have been better
Could have been worse
You could have been yourself

Brought up in mom's arms
Nowhere to fall
Now you're out climbing
Taking it all

You'll end up crying
With your mother's eyes
Suffer that moment's pain
Could have been better
Could have been worse
You're lost in your love for more

Now you're out climbing
And you should know
You'll end up crying
Wherever you may go

Brought up in mom's arms
Nowhere to fall
Now you're out climbing
Climbing to fall

You'll end up crying
With your mother's eyes
Something is lost from the start
Could have been better
Could have been worse
You're going to need me there

​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.