ABBA - I'm A Marionette Lyrics






"You're so free," that's what everybody's telling me
Yet I feel I'm like an outward-bound, pushed around, refugee
Something's wrong, got a feeling that I don't belong
As if I had come from outer space, out of place, like King Kong

I'm a marionette, just a marionette, pull the string
I'm a marionette, everybody's pet, just as long as I sing
I'm a marionette, see my pirouette, round and round
I'm a marionette, I'm a marionette, just a silly old clown

Like a doll, like a puppet with no will at all
And somebody told me how to talk, how to walk, how to fall

Can't complain, I've got no-one but myself to blame
Something's happening I can't control, lost my hold, is it safe?

I'm a marionette, just a marionette, pull the string
I'm a marionette, everybody's pet, just as long as I sing
I'm a marionette, see my pirouette, round and round
I'm a marionette, I'm a marionette, just a silly old clown

"Look this way, just a little smile," is what they say
"You look better on the photograph if you laugh, that's okay"

I'm a marionette, just a marionette, pull the string
I'm a marionette, everybody's pet, just as long as I sing
I'm a marionette, see my pirouette, round and round
I'm a marionette, I'm a marionette, just a silly old clown

"You're so free," that's what everybody's telling me
Yet I feel I'm like an outward-bound, pushed around, refugee





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ABBA I'm A Marionette Comments
  1. R.... S....

    Creeping song, creeping lyrics, creeping vocals, creeping arrengement. A depressed person could commit suicide if listens to this song...

    R.... S....

    It is part of their mini-musical.:
    The Girl With The Golden Hair
    1. Thank You For The Music
    2. I Wonder (Departure)
    3. I'm A Marionette
    4. Get On The Carousel

    It is about a girl who loves to sing and dance. She decides to leave home to become a star. She becomes a star, but soon realizes she is run by the music industry, the puppeteers. She want to get off the carousel, but she can't. She is owned.

    It us ABBA's middle finger to the industry. Early on the industry tries to dictate to ABBA on what they should write about, etc.... ABBA refused. They did their own thing. They were the rebels of the 70's in the music industry.
    ABBA were the smartest and most independent major intl music group ever. Today, they still own and control their entire catalogue.
    They never sold out to the corporations.

    Look at the bands and artist, past and present that get in battles with record labels, management, producer's, writers, etc..... ABBA is saying to future artist -- do it all yourself and keep control of your music.

  2. E.... P....

    Abba - I'm a Marionette
    Metallica - Master of Puppets
    Xd

  3. G.... P....

    Let’s have a high profile pop song where the chorus employs mainly diminished chords, said almost no one ever. This is haunting and BEAUTIFUL.

  4. R.... S....

    ABBA's version is more theatrical than Ghost's one. The orchestra is spooky. If I was alone in the dark in a big house, ABBA's version would creep me more.

  5. B.... T....

    Together with "The Visitors", one of the more unknown Abba gems

  6. T.... B....

    I know that the amount of Ghost fans here is probably irritating to ABBA fans but , regardless of whether you like them or not, you've got to hand it to Ghost for covering this song and not one of the better known ones - they're really trying to show their love for the band and they've said multiple times in interviews that ABBA is one of the most important bands to them, especially as Swedes. It's nice to see so many more people appreciating the lesser regarded songs by ABBA.

  7. A.... G....

    The ultimate visionary ABBA album. In many ways. Represented in many ways, such as using the dorian mood in a very adventures sounding way, not only in this song, but also in Eagle (this song should have been a epic hit, and it secretly is). So, besides making popsongs, they were also into other musical expressions, beyond general popmusic. Their thinking and feeling was much wider and richer than that. They represented more mental fantasy, more musical experiment. Which made me really love them, or at least, got integrated by them, since I was 10 years old (among others in that time), they always felt "beyond" things, in their own way. `Combining the many possible beauty's of music, in a smart and still, very understandable way.

    A.... G....

    And no song in the world that is so wise, so relaxed, so lovely and intimate as "What's the name of the game,". The answer lies in the song itself, and of course it's: LOVE. They don't have to mention it, you just feel the answer in the song, between the lines. LOVE
    That's the (everlasting) name of the game, love

    A.... G....

    Still most bands/groups cannot play that beat the way it should be played

    A.... G....

    Or feelings like the very "homey" (and a little bit "old jazzy") feeling of (the chords of) "Thank you for the music", or the very nasty and brutal (and humor-istic, absurdistisch) feelings in "Hole in your soul", or the very playful groovy dynamics in "Take a chance", or the wide, esoteric and enlightened feeling of "Eagle". This album really goes quite much anywhere, especially according to that time and situation. They went totally beyond what people expected on this album!! Popular and artistic at the same time, in a genius way.

    A.... G....

    I hope I'm not the only one who recognizes this extra genius side of ABBA, but somehow I trust that people eventually will do. Because, when you start listening, and especially, when placing it in time, you will notice this (collective) genius someday.

  8. A.... G....

    There genius album!

  9. M.... G....

    Is best ghost no abba

  10. I.... :....

    How... how is this darker than the Ghost version? This is magnificent!

  11. A.... O....

    Beautiful Sinister Song!!! Due to Tritones......C to F# and Bb to E when they sing I'm a Marionette and also the use of odd times...very Cool!!!

  12. s.... s....

    Still love this in 2019! My Childhood. Timeless Music Geniuses.

  13. k.... k....

    I swear I've heard this song way before I could tell it was actually this sinister-sounding

  14. R.... C....

    Ghost did a great job.... but this.... THIS IS AWESOME!!!!

  15. C.... D....

    Just a tad abstract. It fits into their catalog quite well.

  16. N.... ....

    This is ABBA's "Welcome to the Machine" ...

    Bands have always written songs about how they are screwed over and controlled by money-grabbing music executives. Nice to see ABBA felt they had to make a point about it too.

  17. P.... N....

    Explaining the buisness long before we all knew!

  18. s.... ....

    Never mind Mamma mia and all the other tralala happy sing-along-songs...
    THIS is ABBA at its prime in the studio.
    P E R F E C T I O N

    s.... ....

    DJ Regnier
    I know...
    As i was on their first Scandinavian tour in 1975 (where Frida took the lead on «Rock’n Roll band») and on the Opening-night in Oslo on the Europe/Australia tour, and was one of the app.2500 people in the world tho hear the now legendary «the Girl with the Golden Hair» And finally at the Scandinavium in Gothenburg on their last tour wich was later recorded at the Wembley Arena.
    But what impresses me in the studio-version of «I’m a Marionette is how they tottally remade the arrangement and made the whole thing flow in a much more sophisticated way,than the live version as it came across as much more staccato.

  19. A.... ....

    This song scared me as a kid

  20. E.... ....

    It sounds like it's from a very dramatic musical

    E.... ....

    You are correct.
    1977. Live mini-musical called "The Girl With The Golden Hair'.

    A 4 song narrated mini-musical tells the story of a young girl who love to sing and dance. She wants to be a star. She decides to leave her hometown, family and friends to become a star. She becomes a star. But, she soon learns she has lost control her of music life and is being dictated too by the music industry puppeteers. She feels like a marionette.
    The songs:
    1. Thank You For The Music
    2. I Wonder (Departure)
    3. Get on the Carousel
    4. I'm A Marionette

    This song is also a polite "middle finger" to the music industry who tried to bury ABBA before they could get heard outside of Sweden.

    E.... ....

    @DJ Regnier Oh it's very interesting, thank you. Yes, we can feel so much emotion in that song, and we can feel that ABBA experienced it. I'm glad to know that there's a musical, is it available online ? I will maybe watch it.
    (Btw sorry for my bad english, I'm french)

    E.... ....

    @Elise The mini-musical was never filmed, officially. There is some video online but nothing from beginning to end.

    It was done at the end of their 1977 World Tour concert shows, just prior to the encore/curtain calls.
    By the way, your English if fine. Much better than my French.

  21. K.... L....

    Saturday 6:00 PM 2000

  22. L.... S....

    In some ways this is creepier than the Ghost cover. This song would NOT be out-of-place on a mid 70s Alice Cooper LP...

  23. E.... W....

    This song is so epic.

  24. c.... b....

    Best song written ever now kitana in gut aaaaaaaa

  25. T.... R....

    Ghost does a really cover of this song both are very witchy and been of fan of abba and when I hear this song covers by ghost it gave it a whole more spooky feel and that’s why I love ghost

  26. a.... p....

    dont b a sheep..(whos here because..)

  27. P.... G....

    Those opening bass guitar notes then the cymbals. Awesome.

  28. p.... :....

    My favourite abba song. was my favourite song to dance to when me and my brother would play abba you can dance (which was basicly just dance but only abba)

  29. J.... ....

    This could be the perfect soundtrack for a Tim Burton animation movie.

  30. r.... f....

    This is proof Abba was more than Mama Mia.

  31. M.... G....

    Another underrated treasure from Abba!

  32. Y.... A....

    I'm spooked

  33. K.... F....

    Ghost is just satanic abba. The original version of this song definitely is the most sinister though.

  34. N.... w....

    GHOOOOOST

  35. L.... M....

    I really like the live version in Australia

  36. B.... ....

    For me it's a great pop rock song

  37. P.... P....

    1:25 to 2:22 - unmatched interlude!

  38. L.... j....

    Here cause of ghost

  39. M.... ....

    I’m a huge fan of Ghost And all their stuff and some ghost covers beat the original but in this case Abba takes the win.

  40. M.... t....

    This song sounds to me it's a song about the monarch mind control...how they make u do what they say.

  41. g.... ....

    Another lost Ghost fan over here XDDD I love Ghost cover but daaaaamn son!!! Abba are queens and kings, beyond good and evil *-*.
    Other Abba cover I love is Summer night city by Therion :)

  42. A.... A....

    This song is so 70s I just grew in FULL bush hair.

  43. W.... A....

    I’m here because I like both bands! :D

  44. n.... b....

    Good but just like turn the page by Metallica the cover is better

    n.... b....

    @DJ Regnier get a fucking life dude that was way too much to type out over a comment

  45. R.... B....

    My Mom and Dad brought me here in 1964. Thank you for keeping me full term.

  46. T.... F....

    Ghost made me

  47. A.... L....

    Americanos são retardados, puta merda

  48. D.... M....

    2018 ABBA Sergiu Celibidache..................Salutari din ROMANIA!!!!!!VA IUBIM MULT______________________________

  49. A.... A....

    Colgate Philippines 🇵🇭

  50. E.... ....

    this reminds me of the 80's 90's horror movies and I love it

  51. P.... O....

    cool, very dramatic x

  52. N.... N....

    if you are also a marionette in that crazy world , click !!!

  53. D.... ....

    Ghost ❤️

  54. G.... P....

    the original, because covers suck & dilute what the original writers & performers gave us.

  55. G.... P....

    The first world problems of a supermodel. . .

  56. B.... T....

    Me gusta more el cover de ghost parientes :v

  57. J.... J....

    It sounds more haunting than Ghosts' version O.o WHAT?!..

  58. C.... C....

    The Ghost cover is 100x better.

  59. C.... ....

    Yes, they were/are puppets by the elite. And i say this as a abba fan. You just have to be real. (Especially with yourself.)

  60. J.... ....

    Both versions are so fucking amazing. But this is darker than the ghost version lmao.

  61. T.... ....

    of course came here to compare the ghost version to the original. gotta say as obsessed as i am with ghost and how great their version was, this was awesome! mad respect for this band! one cover that ghost has done where i prefer the original

  62. N.... N....

    ABBA = my love = part of my life....Ever....never found such voices....absolutely NUMBER ONE

  63. H.... L....

    Illuminati!

  64. M.... B....

    Ghost version sounds like: teenager emos complaining about developed world spoiled rich kids problems. While ABBA version sounds like: adults facing troubles in the real world with work, fame, authority, etc. The Ghost version annoyed the hell out of me only in a minute, while I could enjoy ABBA's version, like since childhood, the first time heard it.

  65. J.... M....

    This song sounds more evil than Ghost's version

  66. J.... S....

    The song was written as a protest against the music industry.

    J.... S....

    Do you think Abba were puppets of the industry?

  67. S.... ....

    ABBA is well-known for their happy, sad, hopeful and sometimes mysterious songs. I always thought "The Visitors" would be their farthest trip into the realms of "darkness".
    God, I was wrong. This song is so dark, it's like an evil mirror image of "Dancing Queen".

  68. E.... S....

    Again, I'm amazed by how clever their lyrics are. So crazy how their best pieces are the least known ones.

    E.... S....

    Also, they can be surprisingly brave at times, like this very song for example. Or Super Trouper if you think about it. Pop bands don't usually dare to go there.

  69. s.... s....

    Grew up listening to ABBA. I spent hour upon hour as a youngster listening, and writing down the lyrics. Learnt every word to every song, which I remember to this day. Love this song - especially the instrumental part. So good to see ABBA kept alive with the Mamma Mia movies.

  70. K.... ....

    I much prefer the live version

  71. A.... A....

    YouTube

  72. A.... Y....

    It sounds creepier than Ghost's version

  73. D.... ....

    Here from Ghost 🤘🏼

  74. D.... A....

    Gracias Tobias Forge

  75. E.... P....

    Ghost certainly gave this track a wider audience than it received on its first outing - a track from ABBA’s mini-musical “The Girl with the Golden Hair” , positioned as the closing track to 1977’s album “The Album” - but you’ve got to love how the gothic rock fans, having arrived here, then discover a track that’s even darker and more sinister than what brought them here in the first place! ABBA does EMO!? You bet! This song, which may have shades of the autobiographic about it, tells the story of the young girl who, having left her small-town home, achieves fame and fortune on the world stage, but then has serious misgivings about it. The ‘ghost’ of ‘I’m a Marionette’ (if you’ll pardon the pun) resurfaces in 1980’s Super Trouper, which, although a No. 1 hit around the world and generally perceived as an ‘upbeat’ track, is in fact a comment by the band on how little they enjoyed touring.

    To all the Ghost fans, so glad that you could make it across to ABBA - and enjoy the music!

  76. P.... S....

    An underrated classic!

  77. A.... A....

    Ghost brought me here, and I started to explore more of ABBA's music and now I'm in love with them, thanks Ghost 💕

  78. M.... ....

    Somebody knows how the fuck play the bass intro?

  79. G.... B....

    I had no idea Ghost's cover was a cover at all

  80. B.... ....

    Sigappu rojakkal anyone

  81. B.... K....

    Dear God this song is amazing.

  82. G.... C....

    this song is awesome the guitar

  83. J.... ....

    The Live version in Australia '77 in the movie is even better!

  84. A.... P....

    This song represents their surreal artist side. Commercial Pop is no longer important.

  85. t.... ....

    I hear from an 8 track

  86. F.... a....

    I am late, but listen to this @ .75x and realise how much more creepier it starts getting there on

  87. R.... E....

    I'M BLACK AND I GET 5HIS ALL THE TIME THAT'S WHY I WANT LEAVE THIS FUCK IN COUNTRY OF AMERICA AND I WAS BORN HERE😑

  88. S.... M....

    HAIL GHOST

    S.... M....

    OsMe Ghost is s good cover. But ABBA has that theatrical and high art feel. It feels very 3D. ABBA is known for their professionalism, perfectionism and their musicality. It shows.

  89. c.... ....

    Like others here, I'm here due to the Ghost cover of this song. The original is impressive indeed.

  90. K.... ....

    HOW CAN THIS SONG BE BY ABBA FUCKING GHOST SRLY

    K.... ....

    Yeah Ive been told so! I think its about time I have a deep listening to these guys, about time

  91. D.... m....

    Siendo sincera, la canción en algunas partes parece creepypasta y da un toque de, "pelicula de terror". Mas en la parte que dice I'm A Marionette.

  92. V.... V....

    Ghost brought me here but Abba made me stay, hell of a song even creepier hahahaha

  93. s.... 6....

    ghost vocals are better...my personal opinion

  94. A.... A....

    Mobile Legends:

  95. A.... ....

    omg I remember my walkman and this spooky song

  96. F.... ....

    How is this an ABBA song?? It's so dark D:

  97. K.... ....

    Oh wait, now i think that i like this version better

  98. K.... ....

    Ghost sang it better but this one's scarier

  99. L.... C....

    Like DAMN did this comment section get radied