Released: December 7, 1981
Songwriter: Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus
Producer: Benny Andersson Björn Ulvaeus
[Intro]
"Noll... ett, två, tre"
[Verse 1]
He stands towering over me beside my bed
Losing his head
Tells me I must take him seriously
Droning on, the usual way, he's such a clever guy
Then I wonder, should I laugh or cry?
[Verse 2]
He's dressed in the striped pyjamas that I bought
Trousers too short
Gives me of his small philosophy
Carries on the way he does, and me I get so tired
And I wonder, should I laugh or cry?
[Chorus]
High and mighty his banner flies
A fool's pride in his eyes
Standing there on his toes to grow in size (All I see is...)
All I see is a big balloon
Halfway up to the moon
He's wrapped up in the warm and safe cocoon
Of an eternal lie
So should I laugh or cry?
[Verse 3]
Strange how dangerously indifferent I have grown
Cold as a stone
No more pain where there was pain before
Far away he rambles on, I feel my throat go dry
And I wonder, should I laugh or cry?
[Chorus]
High and mighty his banner flies
A fool's pride in his eyes
Standing there on his toes to grow in size (All I see is...)
All I see is a big balloon
Halfway up to the moon
He's wrapped up in the warm and safe cocoon
Of an eternal lie
So should I laugh or cry?
"Noll... ett, två, tre"
[Verse 1]
He stands towering over me beside my bed
Losing his head
Tells me I must take him seriously
Droning on, the usual way, he's such a clever guy
Then I wonder, should I laugh or cry?
[Verse 2]
He's dressed in the striped pyjamas that I bought
Trousers too short
Gives me of his small philosophy
Carries on the way he does, and me I get so tired
And I wonder, should I laugh or cry?
[Chorus]
High and mighty his banner flies
A fool's pride in his eyes
Standing there on his toes to grow in size (All I see is...)
All I see is a big balloon
Halfway up to the moon
He's wrapped up in the warm and safe cocoon
Of an eternal lie
So should I laugh or cry?
[Verse 3]
Strange how dangerously indifferent I have grown
Cold as a stone
No more pain where there was pain before
Far away he rambles on, I feel my throat go dry
And I wonder, should I laugh or cry?
[Chorus]
High and mighty his banner flies
A fool's pride in his eyes
Standing there on his toes to grow in size (All I see is...)
All I see is a big balloon
Halfway up to the moon
He's wrapped up in the warm and safe cocoon
Of an eternal lie
So should I laugh or cry?
Thank You for the Music
- Ring Ring [Swedish/Spanish/German Version Medley]
- Under Attack
- The Winner Takes It All
- The Visitors
- That’s Me
- Thank You for the Music
- Take a Chance on Me
- Super Trouper
- So Long
- Should I Laugh or Cry
- She’s My Kind of Girl
- Santa Rosa
- S.O.S.
- Ring Ring
- Put on Your White Sombrero
- Voulez-Vous
- When All Is Said and Done
- Waterloo [French/Swedish Version Medley]
- ABBA Undeleted [Demo Medley]
- Slipping Through My Fingers / Me and I (Live) [Dick Cavett Meets ABBA]
- The Name of the Game [U.S. Remix]
- The Day Before You Came
- Summer Night City
- The Way Old Friends Do (Live)
- Pick a Bale of Cotton / On Top of Old Smoky / Midnight Special [Medley]
- I Wonder (Departure) [Live]
- Thank You for the Music (Doris Day Version)
- Honey, Honey [Swedish Version]
- Dream World
- You Owe Me One
- When I Kissed the Teacher
- People Need Love
- Our Last Summer
- One of Us
- Happy Hawaii
- Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
- Elaine
- Eagle
- Does Your Mother Know
- Dancing Queen
- Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)
- Crazy World
- Chiquitita
- Cassandra
- Another Town, Another Train
- Angeleyes
- Fernando
- Waterloo
- Hasta Mañana
- He Is Your Brother
- On and On and On
- My Love, My Life
- Merry-Go-Round
- Mamma Mia
- Lovelight
- Love Isn’t Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)
- Like an Angel Passing Through My Room
- Lay All Your Love on Me
- Knowing Me, Knowing You
- I’ve Been Waiting for You
- I Have a Dream
- I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
- Honey, Honey
- Head Over Heels
- Money, Money, Money
- The Visitors (1981)
- Thank You for the Music (1994)
- Gold: Greatest Hits (40th Anniversary Edition B-sides) (2014)
- Mamma Mia
- Dancing Queen
- The Winner Takes It All
- Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
- Super Trouper
- Fernando
- One of Us
- Waterloo
- Lay All Your Love on Me
- Chiquitita
- Andante, Andante
- Don’t Shut Me Down
- Slipping Through My Fingers
- Money, Money, Money
- Voulez-Vous
- When I Kissed the Teacher
- Happy New Year
- Thank You for the Music
- Why Did It Have to Be Me?
- My Love, My Life
- Chiquitita (Spanish Version)
- S.O.S.
- The Name of the Game
- Does Your Mother Know