Interpretation:Darryl: I think we can both agree that ABBA's lyrics have always been some of the deepest, most penetrating, and most layered lyrics ever written. Songs that seem like nothing more than fluff at first can be examined for years and will continue to reveal deep insight and meaning. This song is a perfect example. At first it appears to be about a young girl who likes to dance. Upon further reflection, it may be about a flaming homosexual who's extraordinarily horny. In actual fact, however, it's about a 17th century Swedish queen, Maria Christina Alexandra, who might have been at home with BOTH of the previous definitions.Jerry: While I AM forced to agree with you that ABBA may very well have written some of the deepest lyrics I've heard I'm NOT sure I can say they have penetrated me. I can't deny, using the same frame of mind, that they have probably made it at least to second base with me, but that's beside the point. Actually... Remaining on that same frame of mind, I'm 'fairly' certain that I really wouldn't have been into the four way but that blond chick is HOT. With that hot mama I definitely would have aimed for a home run if none of the other runners were on base, but even at that, the odds of ME getting penetrated are very low. I still have to stand firm that their lyrics have not penetrated me... Seems I went off on a bit of a tangent. As for the meaning of the lyrics to Dancing Queen. This song is an audible metaphor for blackmail. Picture this 'scene' if you will. You are out at a bar. You see one HOT tiny little thing that you just wanna rub down with honey and play 'nummy slip-and-slide' on. She's gyrating all over the place making you drool and then... BAAM... she's at your table with Russian Hands and shortly you take her home with you. You have your fun.. Ya know.. A little bit of wild monkey sex and whatnot and THEN she informs you she's underage. She will of course take money to not go to the cops and you end up emptying your bank account to stay out of prison. THIS is what the song's about, not some confused, sausage deficient, role model for alternative genders and sexual preferences! Had ABBA really written this song about Maria Christina Alexandra their lyrics would have been so deep that it would have ripped the fabric of space time and we would all be dead! Darryl: Believe it or not, ABBA is known to have ripped the fabric of space time at least three times during their spectacular run. Each time, instead of killing us, it actually made us a little better off. But that's neither here nor there. Your shallow interpretation is exactly what I'm talking about. Everyone writes songs about underage, would be hookers blackmailing horny losers in bars, much like yourself. ABBA, however, hid within such obvious lyrics the story of an out of place queen searching for her "place to go" in this world. She didn't want to be Queen and may not have wanted to be female at all. She pursued her career as monarch recklessly, thus the line "Leave them burning and then you're gone". After spending time looking "for a King" to take her place, she decided that "anybody could be that guy" and when she got "the chance" she jumped ship. The rest of her life was spent dancing whatever dance caught her fancy. Brilliant, n'est pas? Jerry: Well, it's true that the blonde chick ripped the fabric of my underwear but I'm not convinced that she ever got around to the fabric of space time. I find it amazing that you insult my interpretation by calling it shallow when your interpretation is nothing more than a cheap parlor trick. For example: Dirty "Old Macdonald" was a trisexual who "had a farm." Not being the cleanest man in the world he caught an unknown disease from an animal and when he urinated he would start screaming "ee i ee i ohhhh". The worst part was "on his farm he had some sheep." And late at night there'd be a "baa baa here, and a baa baa there, here a baa there a baa, everywhere a baa baa." Hey, how about some of those lines you missed like what was so important about your queen when she was "only seventeen?" Was she a Vlad Dracula wanna be when she would, "leave them burning" and then leave? Don't get me wrong. Your interpretation is interesting but I need a bit more substance... Darryl: Jerry, I can honestly say I will never hear "Old Macdonald" in the same way again. I can only imagine what's going through your head when the little children sing, "on his farm he had some mice"! ABBA's reference to "only seventeen" actually makes my interpretation more solid. In Sweden the word seventeen is actually used as a curse word. In effect, the song is saying, "You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, but damned." The Swedish belief that seventeen is a curse came from the Romans. They wrote seventeen as XVII which is an anagram for VIXI. In Latin this literally means "I have lived" or, more accurately "My life is over". Thus the happy pop music is accompanied by the singing of "You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, but your life is over, babe!" The queen viewed her life as over since she thought she was stuck in the role of monarch, as well as in the role of a woman. Jerry - Summary: Well that's just great. I believe the depth of your argument just caused yet another rip in the fabric of space time. Though my interpretation is correct and yours is so obviously originating from a parallel universe, the length you went to prove me wrong is so admirable I tip my hat to you. |
ABBA - Dancing QueenYou can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen Friday night and the lights are low Looking out for the place to go Where they play the right music, getting in the swing You come in to look for a King Anybody could be that guy Night is young and the music's high With a bit of rock music, everything is fine You're in the mood for a dance And when you get the chance... You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen You're a teaser, you turn 'em on Leave them burning and then you're gone Looking out for another, anyone will do You're in the mood for a dance And when you get the chance... You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen |