About The Song
In the realm of pop music, the Swedish supergroup ABBA stands as a towering icon, their infectious melodies and flamboyant stage presence captivating audiences worldwide. Among their extensive discography, the song “I’m a Marionette” stands out as a poignant ballad that delves into the depths of human emotion and self-awareness. Released in 1977 as part of their fifth studio album, The Album, the track showcases ABBA’s versatility, venturing beyond their signature upbeat style to explore a darker, more introspective soundscape.
From the opening notes, “I’m a Marionette” casts a spell of melancholic beauty. The piano’s gentle chords and the melancholic strains of the flute paint a backdrop of emotional vulnerability, while the singers’ voices intertwine in a harmonious lament. The lyrics, penned by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, delve into the protagonist’s inner turmoil, grappling with feelings of confinement and a lack of agency.
“You’re so free,” the protagonist sings, “that’s what everybody’s telling me, yet I feel I’m like an outward-bound, pushed around, refugee.” These lines capture the essence of the song’s central theme: the struggle between the desire for individuality and the constraints imposed by external forces. The protagonist feels like a marionette, a puppet manipulated by unseen strings, their actions dictated by others rather than their own will.
The song’s imagery further reinforces this sense of entrapment. The protagonist likens themselves to “a doll, like a puppet with no will at all,” highlighting their perceived lack of control over their own destiny. The repeated phrase “I’m a marionette” serves as a constant reminder of their perceived powerlessness, echoing through the song like a mournful refrain.
Despite the song’s somber tone, “I’m a Marionette” offers a glimmer of hope. The protagonist acknowledges their limitations but also expresses a yearning for freedom. They long to break free from the strings that bind them and assert their own identity. The bridge section, with its soaring melodies and impassioned vocals, hints at a potential for liberation, suggesting that the protagonist may yet find the strength to break the chains of their self-imposed limitations.
“I’m a Marionette” concludes with a sense of lingering uncertainty. The protagonist’s fate remains unresolved, leaving the listener to ponder their own struggles with self-determination and the pursuit of personal freedom. ABBA’s masterful songwriting and captivating performance leave an indelible mark, inviting listeners to reflect on their own journeys of self-discovery and the pursuit of authenticity in a world that often seeks to control and define us.
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Lyric
“You’re so free, ” that’s what everybody’s telling meYet I feel I’m like an outward-bound, pushed around, refugeeSomething’s wrong, got a feeling that I don’t belongAs if I had come from outer space, out of place, like King KongI’m a marionette, just a marionette, pull the stringI’m a marionette, everybody’s pet, just as long as I singI’m a marionette, see my pirouette, round and roundI’m a marionette, I’m a marionette, just a silly old clownLike a doll, like a puppet with no will at allAnd somebody told me how to talk, how to walk, how to fallCan’t complain, I’ve got no-one but myself to blameSomething’s happening I can’t control, lost my hold, is it safe?I’m a marionette, just a marionette, pull the stringI’m a marionette, everybody’s pet, just as long as I singI’m a marionette, see my pirouette, round and roundI’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 stringI’m a marionette, everybody’s pet, just as long as I singI’m a marionette, see my pirouette, round and roundI’m a marionette, I’m a marionette, just a silly old clown“You’re so free, ” that’s what everybody’s telling meYet I feel I’m like an outward-bound, pushed around, refugee