ABBA - The Visitors Lyrics






I hear the door-bell ring and suddenly the panic takes me
The sound so ominously tearing through the silence
I cannot move, I'm standing
Numb and frozen
Among the things I love so dearly
The books, the paintings and the furniture
Help me...

The signal's sounding once again and someone tries the doorknob
None of my friends would be so stupidly impatient
And they don't dare to come here
Anymore now
But how I loved our secret meetings
We talked and talked in quiet voices
Smiling...

Now I hear them moving
Muffled noises coming through the door
I feel I'm
Crackin' up
Voices growing louder, irritation building
And I'm close to fainting
Crackin' up
They must know by now I'm in here trembling
In a terror evergrowing
Crackin' up
My whole world is falling, going crazy
There is no escaping now, I'm
Crackin' up

These walls have witnessed all the anguish of humiliation
And seen the hope of freedom glow in shining faces
And now they've come to take me
Come to break me
And yet it isn't unexpected
I have been waiting for these visitors
Help me...
Now I hear them moving
Muffled noises coming through the door
I feel I'm
Crackin' up
Voices growing louder, irritation building
And I'm close to fainting
Crackin' up
They must know by now I'm in here trembling
In a terror evergrowing
Crackin' up
My whole world is falling, going crazy
There is no escaping now, I'm
Crackin' up

Now I hear them moving
Muffled noises coming through the door
I feel I'm
Crackin' up
Voices growing louder, irritation building
And I'm close to fainting
Crackin' up
(I have been waiting for these visitors)
They must know by now I'm in here trembling
In a terror evergrowing
Crackin' up
(I have been waiting for these visitors)
My whole world is falling, going crazy
There is no escaping now, I'm
Crackin' up
(I have been waiting for these visitors)
Now I hear them moving
Muffled noises coming through the door
I feel I'm
Crackin' up
(I have been waiting for these visitors)
Voices growing louder, irritation building
And I'm close to fainting
Crackin' up
(I have been waiting for these visitors)
They must know by now I'm in here trembling
In a terror evergrowing
Crackin' up
(I have been waiting for these visitors)
My whole world is falling, going crazy
There is no escaping now, I'm
Crackin' up

[fade]





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ABBA The Visitors Comments
  1. D.... R....

    The USSR banned this album in 1982, due to two Cold War songs:
    1. The Visitors
    2. Soldiers
    At the time ABBA wrote these songs, Russian sub's were in and around the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. A Russian sub actually ran aground, getting stranded on rocks. A big big story back then.

  2. L.... F....

    Brilliant

  3. A.... H....

    yeah it's a great tune, groovy and all... but the lyrics are doomladen... so there's a mismatch, and that's not gonna cut it !!

    A.... H....

    Those lyrics were very effective. A Russian dissident expressing panic by getting found-out. So effective the USSR banned 'The Visitors' album because of ABBA's two Cold War songs. The album came out in late 1981. In 1982, the USSR banned it.
    1. The Visitors
    2. Soldiers

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

    Huge prog rock fan, But...ABBA

  5. R.... S....

    A masterpiece. And, as one, nobody knew it was a masterpiece in 1981. Now, in 2019, we know it.

  6. u.... ....

    Although not the official interpretation, this song reminds me of my mental breakdown and the maelstrom with it

  7. A.... A....

    PURE LENNON /MCARTNEY

  8. B.... N....

    Simply one of the best Songs ever written!!!

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

    Anyone else hearing echoes of Madonna's vocal delivery on her global hit 'Ray Of Light' - recorded 17 yrs after this ABBA release? Hmm, interesting....

  10. R.... F....

    The song written as a protest against the USSR and its treatment of dissidents and its ordinary citizens

  11. G.... S....

    What is the brilliant song all about ? mental illness ?

    G.... S....

    Opressive totalitarian regimes

  12. M.... W....

    En av de bästa låtarna dom har gjort. Bättre kan det inte bil. Eller?

  13. W.... H....

    C'mon 20 20 haven't we waited enough

  14. E.... S....

    Amazing.

  15. R.... S....

    Masterpiece.

  16. R.... S....

    FANTASTIC. Who are the visitors?

  17. U.... U....

    These are the ever best made lyrics in its fashion in pop music....ever.......

  18. W.... O....

    I hear the Beatles all over this.

  19. T.... D....

    ABBA always sends you to another place with their music.

  20. R.... T....

    This is the song that stopped ABBA, unfortunately.

    R.... T....

    That is a Beatles inspired song. The voice is similar to "tommorow never knows"

    R.... T....

    @resireg Per Bjorn Ulvaes, who wrote the lyric, it is about a Russian dissident and friends who meet in secret places/rooms who talk about their government and about the dream of being free, ... and the anxiety that would be felt the day you were caught. The "Visitors" are Soviet authorities.

    Per Anni-Frid Lyngstad, who has the lead vocal on this song, said her vocal styling inspiration for this song came from Ertha Kitt. She also, credits Ertha for her vocal styling in the ABBA song 'Me and I'.

    Regarding ABBA's musical influences. They were inspired by John & Paul as a songwriting team, but not musically. Their musical influence was traditional Swedish folk, Northern Euro and Russian traditional songs, French & Italian ballads, classical, J.S. Bach, British & American records they heard has kids..... Benny Andersson points out the 'B' side to 'Jailhouse Rock' because of the piano.
    The girls vocal idols -
    Anni-Frid Lyngstad: Ella Fitzgerald
    Agnetha Faltskog: Connie Francis

    They wrote, mixed/arranged and produced their own records/albums. They did not use outside producer's. They were essentially an indie band. Their success was grassroots. They had no help from the music industry nor the media.

    R.... T....

    @DJ Regnier the most Beatles influenced member in the group was Benny Andersson. His previous band "Hep Stars" were called the Swedish Beatles (and in some videos you can see Benny playing some of their songs, like "Martha My Dear" on the piano). I like both bands by the way. The lyric is very good too.

    R.... T....

    @DJ Regnier , by stopping them, I meant was the turning point and saw the decline of their careers. With this album it was said that there was a "disconnect" with their fans. If we look at the title track, it is modal and not in the customary major or minor keys which are also modes. At least it does sound to be modal.

    R.... T....

    @R T their fans in North America maybe, because in Europe (Netherlands, Germany, Finland, and maybe even UK) that album was a number 1 in sales charts, besides the band was exhausted. The members had become estranged from each other

  21. J.... c....

    Reminds me of when mental health workers were trying to get in to section me and drag me off to a mental hospital.

  22. k.... s....

    Still listening to this in 2019. It's a timeless classic.

  23. B.... ....

    Ford me it's a rock song

  24. T.... H....

    Did they use auto tune on the lead vocal? Not that AnniFrid needed it of course, but it would explain that other-wordly sound.

  25. C.... D....

    :20. Super Mario earns 1up.

  26. t.... g....

    like being surrounded by sunshine rays , prodigious !!

  27. F.... C....

    Great Cold War song

    F.... C....

    I love cold war themes, especially because USSR lost.

  28. C.... C....

    Such an awesome song.Pitty it did not get the airplay it truly deserves and why was it so underrated?.It is one of abba's greatest songs

    C.... C....

    Abba was not performing concerts anymore. That did not help.

  29. N.... t....

    wow super

  30. D.... M....

    The swan song of ABBA

  31. U.... ....

    still my fav Abba. The way her voice sounds is amazing.

  32. J.... M....

    this is like chemical brothers made a duet with Anni-Frid Lyngstad. awe-freking-some. and although wikipedia says this song was about and against soviets/communist and such, I strongly believe otherwise. it almost feels like it is a praise to pleaidian aliens or something even more interesting than that. so mysterios and sweet at the same time. with all those dedicated synths and beatifully doubled voice of Anni-Frid, doubled john-lennon style but more haunting, absolutely lovin' it. its year 2021 and still listening to this.



    "I have been waiting for these visitors, help me!"

  33. R.... H....

    broke: "The Visitors" is about social anxiety
    woke: "The Visitors" song depicts a citizen of a totalitarian country in her final moments before being arrested by the secret police
    Galaxy Brain Woke: this song is the prequel to Fernando

    R.... H....

    It is a very anti communist song. The KGB was very active in tjose years

  34. m.... s....

    It's a great song, but feel it needs to be speeded up a little to give it a bit of techno edge..

  35. D.... N....

    wow. "The Visitors" was like 30-40 years ahead of their time. I can hear production nowadays influenced by this. Amazing.

  36. A.... B....

    Even the worst music of the Sixties, is far better than todays garbage!

    A.... B....

    todays music is actually stupid and garbage

  37. A.... B....

    I never thought I would hear music as fantastic as ABBA, just shows how wrong you can be!

  38. j.... a....

    One of their best. Lyric tune ect. A masterpiece.

  39. M.... O....

    Love this song, even after all these years!

  40. B.... ....

    My favourite of them 😍

  41. D.... ....

    It just shows how they were maturing musically and thematically. Such a shame they didn't continue into the 80s

  42. D.... R....

    ABBA's two Cold War songs: The Visitors & Soldiers.
    In 1982, the Soviet Union banned the album.

    D.... R....

    Well... quite early on, probably post 75 live performances, they learned that song lyrics were taking on whole different meanings depending on the context they were listened at or performed.
    So they started creating... it is funny to say it like this, but actually these are; multidimensional meaning lyrics.
    What is the meaning of? Tiger, The Visitors, Elaine-the nowhere lane, etc. and the obvious case; Super Trouper.

    Not for nothing Bjorn is fluent in several tongues, plus his unique personality is very difficult to be labeled. And an archetypal role like his has barely recently been valued in present times in the context of teams.
    Benny's 2nd album has a drawing of his massive hands playing keys, while an harlequin is just escaping the scene; that's Bjorn of course. :)
    And his lyrics reflect that, like ABBA's music reflect what each of them is, plus the crystallization they form together.

    D.... R....

    Russia is the most backward of nations. They hate democracy, huma rights or freedom of press/opinion even today.

  43. b.... ....

    spooky cool

  44. S.... T....

    2019 !!!!!!!!!

  45. M.... A....

    Visitors is a hypnotic masterpiece. Frida is so awesome...I have listened this so much...

  46. E.... L....

    This song reminds me of scenes in sci-fi shows and sci-fi films

  47. T.... ....

    BRILLIANT song! I always had it in my head that this was a song about aliens abducting people from earth. Haha!, I never really paid attention to the lyrics before. A very powerful and moving song, in no small part due to the timing of the lyrics and how the music builds and builds in anxiousness and anxiety. One of my favorite ABBA songs!

  48. A.... S....

    One of their best recordings in my opinion. It is the title track, so I guess it is well known but not a big hit. I rembember getting the album, I was a teenager. Got blown away by this one and " I let the music speak"

  49. U.... B....

    popcult i agree

  50. G.... G....

    OMG this songs make me fly!

  51. T.... ....

    I never understood why they released this superbly written & crafted song on the B-side of a single - it is in every way superior to the pathetic "Head over heels" on the A-side- But then again ABBA has a history of awesome B-sides...

    T.... ....

    You lost me as soon as you canned Head Over Heels (which is absolutely in my top ten ABBA songs). That says more about your lack of musical appreciation than anything else. For what it's worth, this is a great song as well.

  52. J.... G....

    Super..... Dear Abba.....

  53. H.... L....

    giving me Madonna Ray Of Light vibes :)

    H.... L....

    Abba broke up af their peak of creativity. Just like the Beatles did

  54. a.... ....

    I haven’t heard this in 25 years. Completely forgot about it. I used to dance my ass off to this

  55. R.... S....

    Christians know

  56. A.... A....

    Beautiful song that when I hear it feels like a lot memories in 1988th.

  57. R.... C....

    I have been looking for this song for years as its one of the first cd recordings world history besides billy joel 52nd st ..both were the first public cd s sold ..besides the first cd players ..😂😂😂😂..jonah terms 1982 -1984 ..

    R.... C....

    It is in fact the first CD recording made worldwide at the first CD factory. At the time, some US distributer broke his contract and released other title a bit earlier, so it is not the first CD sold.

    R.... C....

    i love both of them

  58. p.... ....

    got hold of this album in a random collection of vinyls, and it just blew me away. This is far more than expected and sounds as fresh today as ever.

  59. r.... ....

    First album recorded and mixed entirely digitally. While this is commonplace today, it was groundbreaking for 1981. Think about it, these are digital audio files from 1981...

    r.... ....

    Well, it was intended to be so at the time. In pop terms, because in classical music there are early recordings with the DDD logo (digitally, recorded, mixed and produced).
    However, once it they produced the first digital masters, Michael Tretow (probably together with B&B) decided to process those tracks through the analogue mixing desk because the overall sound was to clinical for their ears, then. Lets remember that since the construction of their own studio at 78 they were continuously modifying their audio hardware chain. Those were very very radical times, not only in shifts in musical styles and tastes, but in disruptive technologies and new audio gear being released.

  60. U.... ....

    0:19 now you know where the picking-a-coin sound from Super Mario comes from.

  61. K.... M....

    I think it's appropriate to realize that not all visitors to your home are good ones like bailiffs and so bog off bailiffs, my home is my castle.

  62. P.... P....

    Very eccentric song for ABBA were they trying to tel us something with those freaky lyrics? Good song nevertheless,I like nearly all of their songs being a long time fan.

    P.... P....

    This song was meant to be a criticism of the treatment of dissidents (harassment, jail, torture) in the Soviet Union (and other Eastern European countries which were all dictatorships as well at the time). The lyrics were kept intentionally vague so that the song/album wouldn't get blacklisted/banned in the East. This song (and the album) still eventually got banned in the USSR in 1982 though.

  63. p.... l....

    scary words

  64. V.... S....

    For some odd reason I like this album cover so much. I suppose its because its not the Abba you expect... Its not the Abba of all the joy and love (And sometimes of heartbreak) but of alienation and seperation

  65. E.... ....

    Wow never heard this. I'm shook

  66. a.... ....

    This song is just about knowing that you will die tortured soon... and is so heavenly.

  67. P.... H....

    Strange and dark music by ABBA in 1981... Strange and dark, but magnificent.
    It's the only song that I like from the "Visitors" album.
    But don't yell, everyone has different tastes !
    We feel the end of something.
    In fact, the end of ABBA.

    P.... H....

    Well, I you have the chance to listen to a copy of this album in uncompressed .wav quality (44.1kHz,16bit), together with a tranquil moment for yourself.
    Then grab a pair of good headphones, sit down, and play track n°9 "Like an Angel passing through my room".

    Ideally find a place you may rest back and close your eyes. At its start, notice the little high frequency keyboard tickling you just behind the clock sound. It is barely noticeable but it is there. There's the clock and that subtle keyboard being played, nothing else. Make sure you set a volume you are able to discern those sounds, but not too high. Once you've set that. Start the song again.
    From then on just relax and take the rest of the sounds in. You might discover something...

  68. K.... L....

    my favorite

  69. J.... K....

    cracking up

  70. J.... R....

    The intro is breathtaking....

  71. J.... C....

    Spectacular and powerful ABBA music!!

  72. J.... S....

    READY FOR THIS...This was the first song my ears heard on a Sony Walkman. 1982 "I'm Cracking Up". Wow still awesome!!!!

  73. e.... k....

    https://youtu.be/lTI8I-S4Ld4

  74. G.... R....

    Очень мне нравится этот альбом, последний альбом АББЫ. Именно этой фотографией была оформлена его обложка. Жаль, что они распались.

  75. S.... J....

    This is far advanced for the time and a classic and so underrated
    Very cleverly written and just brilliant.
    My dad saved for this album and couldn't wait till he saved his money as he was paid weekly but he sadly passed away before he could buy it.
    My favourite album from ABBA and every time I play it's for my dad.
    So many stories about what this song is about but it just captures everything about the good and bad in this world we live in.....

  76. C.... B....

    la.chose.ma.caressee.au.niveau.du.visage
    l.endroit.ou.l.on.pratique.les.rinoplasties.faciale.la.caresse.etait.douce.

  77. A.... B....

    I think this was the first compact disc ever put out

  78. M.... d....

    This was the first DDD album ever! (digitally recorded mastered and the first album to appear on CD !!)

    M.... d....

    I was about to say the same, but wasn t sure...thanks for confirm it...yes digital recorded in 1981

    M.... d....

    It was intended to be so. Yes it was the first manufactured CD ever, however an US distributor breached his contract and sold other first. It also was not DDD by decision because once the DDD masters were tested the sound was too clinical, so MTretow did some extra processing on analogue gear. I am sure those DDD masters are somewhere stored...

  79. L.... Q....

    Love the song beat and opening

  80. T.... W....

    I LOVED this then..and now. When it came on we'd SWARM to the dance floor at the Lost and Found..and then DANCE!!!!!!

  81. P.... C....

    I SO love this song. My ABBA favorite!

  82. p.... l....

    sad words though, loving things and not people.

  83. m.... m....

    they should had made a video back then of the main title this is my fave ABBA album btw :)

  84. N.... N....

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

    N.... N....

    DUDE THAT WAS RELEASED IN 1976 THIS WAS RELEASED IN 1981 THEY ARE 2 DIFFERENT DECADES

  85. S.... ....

    What is this effect on the vocals?

    S.... ....

    Several techniques were employed, however this vocal is particularly noted because Frida mostly did creative singing, and the main effect is hers. Similarly Agnetha _effects_ her voice at Gimme Gimme Gimme, at I am the city and others, almost like a different singer is there. Amazing init?

  86. Z.... M....

    Thank you! :)

  87. K.... J....

    My wife struggles with agoraphobia. I'm here for her.

  88. S.... ....

    There were only two decent tracks on this album: One Of Us and Head Over Heels. Sadly this tuneless dirge holds none of the Abba magic of previous years.

    S.... ....

    Two for the Price of One, Head over Heels, and When All is Said and Done are all fantastic and off this album. Even Like and Angel Passing Through My Room is very beautiful. As for the title track, The Visitors, this isn't the first time ABBA experimented with a darker sound and subject matter. It reminds me of I'm a Marionette from ABBA The Album. That song is very dark, as well.

    S.... ....

    What planet did you arrive from?

  89. L.... ....

    This is the bomb. Underappreciated, and never performed by them as far as I know. Why, it's the best song they ever wrote.

    L.... ....

    Because it was just too dark for their usual  audience. People  are siting at home in fear of being picked up by the secret police ?  -- not a very popular subject for pop music.

  90. M.... ....

    Steve Hillage sound

  91. C.... B....

    soledad.etai.donc.espagnole..et.non.italienne..elle.aimai.san.doute.la.solitude.ou.pa.du.tou.oca.ou.se.son.c.est.parent.qui.lui.on.donne.son.prenom.elle.avai.egalement.enregistre.un.ou.deux.disque.avant.de.devenire.actrice..et.je.paris.qu.elle.a.aimai.un.torero..ptetre.meme.celui.qui.decede.en.catrevint.huit.qui.sait.elle.decede.un.dix.huit.aout.o.portugal.moi.qui.voulai.aller.au.portugal.

  92. J.... F....

    My favourite Abba song and I'm glad Frida did lead vocals here, her deeper voice adds something to the eeriness.

    J.... F....

    What song was this please?

  93. P.... F....

    Haunting..What was this songs'
    inspiration?

    P.... F....

    The plight of Soviet dissidents in the Cold War era.

  94. P.... B....

    THIS is a song Cher should have covered! My Favorite!

    P.... B....

    and it would fit so well with her voice and style

  95. C.... B....

    je.vais.a.l.apart...il.va.pleuvoir.il.fai.beau.pourcoi.ve.tu.qu.il.pleuve?.
    je.coure.mon.lit.est.a.la.fenetre..allo.tavu.pil.j.arrive.pour.rentrer.mes.afaire.a.la.fenetre.et.pole.la.pluie.tombe..

  96. C.... B....

    qu.est.ce.que.tu.as.dis.?..j.ai.rien.di.je.sui.ici.dans.la.cuisine.

  97. j.... b....

    When this album came out I was so disappointed, like I could sense something was wrong: the Abba spell broken.

    But listening back now I can see it's actually really wonderful.

  98. A.... L....

    i love this song ♥................

  99. e.... ....

    2:38 WOULDN'T IT BE PERFECT FOR STRANGER THINGS INTRO?

    e.... ....

    Elvis Wellington 😂😂