Winner Takes It All

The song I have chosen for Sunday Song and Rhyme challenge for 12 to 25th May is Winner Takes It All by Abba. The song was released in 1980.

I don’t wanna talk
About things we’ve gone through
Though it’s hurting me
Now it’s history

I’ve played all my cards
And that’s what you’ve done too
Nothing more to say
No more ace to play

The winner takes it all
The loser’s standing small
Beside the victory
That’s her destiny

I was in your arms
Thinking I belonged there
I figured it made sense
Building me a fence

Building me a home
Thinking I’d be strong there
But I was a fool
Playing by the rules

The gods may throw a dice
Their minds as cold as ice
And someone way down here
Loses someone dear

The winner takes it all (takes it all)
The loser has to fall (has to fall)
It’s simple and it’s plain (it’s so plain)
Why should I complain? (Why complain?)

But tell me, does she kiss
Like I used to kiss you?
Does it feel the same
When she calls your name?

Somewhere deep inside
You must know I miss you
But what can I say?
Rules must be obeyed

The judges will decide (will decide)
The likes of me abide (me abide)
Spectators of the show (of the show)
Always staying low (staying low)

The game is on again (on again)
A lover or a friend (or a friend)
A big thing or a small (big or small)
The winner takes it all (takes it all)

I don’t wanna talk
If it makes you feel sad
And I understand
You’ve come to shake my hand

I apologize
If it makes you feel bad
Seeing me so tense
No self-confidence
But you see

The winner takes it all
The winner takes it all

So the winner takes it all
And the loser has to fall
Throw the dice, cold as ice
Way down here, someone dear
Takes it all, has to fall
And it’s plain, why complain?

It is one of my favourite Abba songs, but also one of the saddest. It is thought that the song was based on the real-life breakup between ABBA members Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog.

I have written about the song before in a blog about Chronic illness and relating the words to losing your health and lifestyle rather than a love one, see www.craftyjanes.co.uk/2017/07/26/winner-takes-it-all/.

It isn’t easy to represent a song in a card, but I chose to be inspired by the references to gambling and game play. In particular the lines “I’ve played all my cards,” “No more ace to play,” “The gods may throw a dice” and “The game is on again.”

I used an image of playing cards, dice and gambling chips from Cricut, drawn and cut on my Cricut Joy Extra, layered with gold card (gold winner) and backing paper designed by Dot Creative Clipart.

It will be interesting to see how other interpret this song, I had other ideas, but am pleased with how this one has turned out.

Just as I have finished the blog Winner Takes it All played on the radio!!

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