Meaning and Lyrics of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) by ABBA
Song Lyrics meaning of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) by ABBA
About ABBA
ABBA: Sweden’s Sonic Treasure Trove
ABBA is a name synonymous with catchy pop tunes, shimmering outfits, and that indelible 70s glam. Founded in 1972, the group is a quartet that includes Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Their name itself is an acronym, ingeniously derived from the first letters of their first names. What started as a humble Swedish endeavor mutated into a global phenomenon, catapulting ABBA into the stratosphere of pop music royalty.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Stardom
ABBA’s journey to the zenith of pop stardom started with their breakthrough hit, “Waterloo,” which snatched victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. This was no ordinary victory—it was a sonic cannonball that shook the foundations of pop music. “Waterloo” marked the start of an era where ABBA became pop purveyors of the highest order. Discography and Evolution
Albums like “Arrival” (1976), “The Album” (1977), and “Voulez-Vous” (1979) cemented their status as perennial hitmakers. Each record pushed the boundaries of their sound, combining lush harmonies, slick production, and infectious melodies, creating a template that would influence countless artists. By the time of “Super Trouper” (1980) and “The Visitors” (1981), ABBA had refined their formula to near-perfection, and yet they were beginning to explore more mature themes, perhaps signaling the end of their commercial extravaganza. Cultural Impact and Legacy
Their tunes are the bedrock of countless wedding playlists and karaoke bars, a testament to their everlasting appeal. However, ABBA’s influence stretches far beyond the music charts. They have become a cultural touchstone, inspiring musicals like “Mamma Mia!” and artist tributes that keep their legacy ever germane to both nostalgic boomers and curious millennials alike. An Example Song: “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”
A quintessential ABBA track, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” epitomizes their genius. Released in 1979, the song is a pulsating slice of disco euphoria. Benny Andersson’s synthesizers weave a tapestry of sound impossible to ignore, while Agnetha Fältskog’s lead vocal performance adds a layer of heartfelt urgency. The song’s addictive melody and rhythm have also proven to be fertile ground for sampling, notably in Madonna’s “Hung Up.” In essence, ABBA is much more than the sum of their sequins and dance moves. They engineered a universal, emotional connection with their audience—striking both joy and melancholy—with a sound as enduring as their dazzling outfits.
ABBA’s journey to the zenith of pop stardom started with their breakthrough hit, “Waterloo,” which snatched victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974. This was no ordinary victory—it was a sonic cannonball that shook the foundations of pop music. “Waterloo” marked the start of an era where ABBA became pop purveyors of the highest order. Discography and Evolution
Albums like “Arrival” (1976), “The Album” (1977), and “Voulez-Vous” (1979) cemented their status as perennial hitmakers. Each record pushed the boundaries of their sound, combining lush harmonies, slick production, and infectious melodies, creating a template that would influence countless artists. By the time of “Super Trouper” (1980) and “The Visitors” (1981), ABBA had refined their formula to near-perfection, and yet they were beginning to explore more mature themes, perhaps signaling the end of their commercial extravaganza. Cultural Impact and Legacy
Their tunes are the bedrock of countless wedding playlists and karaoke bars, a testament to their everlasting appeal. However, ABBA’s influence stretches far beyond the music charts. They have become a cultural touchstone, inspiring musicals like “Mamma Mia!” and artist tributes that keep their legacy ever germane to both nostalgic boomers and curious millennials alike. An Example Song: “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”
A quintessential ABBA track, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” epitomizes their genius. Released in 1979, the song is a pulsating slice of disco euphoria. Benny Andersson’s synthesizers weave a tapestry of sound impossible to ignore, while Agnetha Fältskog’s lead vocal performance adds a layer of heartfelt urgency. The song’s addictive melody and rhythm have also proven to be fertile ground for sampling, notably in Madonna’s “Hung Up.” In essence, ABBA is much more than the sum of their sequins and dance moves. They engineered a universal, emotional connection with their audience—striking both joy and melancholy—with a sound as enduring as their dazzling outfits.
Meaning of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) by ABBA
ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” is one of those songs that epitomizes the late disco era with its infectious rhythm, catchy hooks, and impeccable production. Let’s dive into the intricacies of this iconic track and explore why it continues to resonate in pop culture even decades after its release.
Musical Composition and Production
From the outset, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” grabs the listener with its immediately recognizable synth riff, a hallmark of late ’70s and early ’80s disco. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the masterminds behind ABBA’s sound, harness the power of synthesizers to create a pulsating backdrop that propels the song forward. The blend of Agnetha Fältskog’s and Anni-Frid Lyngstad’s voices adds a layer of complexity to the track, giving it a haunting yet alluring quality.
The production showcases ABBA’s signature lush harmonies and polished instrumentation. Layer upon layer of sound gives the track a full-bodied feel, making it nearly impossible not to want to get up and dance. The use of strings and an insistent bassline provides the track with a relentless energy that keeps it in perpetual motion.
Lyrical Analysis
On the lyrical front, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” presents a narrative of loneliness and longing. The protagonist is depicted in a state of desolation, exacerbated by the solitude of a late evening. Lines like “Half past twelve / And I’m watching the late show in my flat all alone / How I hate to spend the evening on my own” vividly describe a scene many of us can relate to: the loneliness that can hit hardest in the quiet hours of the night.
The recurring plea, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! a man after midnight,” serves as both a literal and metaphorical cry for companionship. It’s not just about the physical presence of a man, but the desire for a deeper connection to help “chase these shadows away.” The night becomes a symbol of the protagonist’s emotional darkness, and the break of day represents a hope for renewal and escape from her isolated reality.
Cultural Impact
The song’s cultural impact is monumental. It’s been covered and sampled numerous times, perhaps most notably in Madonna’s “Hung Up,” which prominently features that iconic synth riff. This intertextuality underscores the song’s enduring influence in pop music. It’s a reminder of how ABBA’s work continues to inspire contemporary artists and remains relevant across generations.
Artistic Merit
What sets “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” apart is its ability to marry vulnerability with irresistible dance beats. The duality of despair and hope is encapsulated within a joyous soundscape, capturing the essence of the human experience. That emotional complexity is often elusive in pop music, making this track a standout in ABBA’s illustrious discography.
From its expertly crafted production to its poignant lyrics, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” is more than just a dance track; it’s a cultural artifact that represents a bygone era while continuing to influence and captivate. It’s a testament to ABBA’s genius that a song rooted in the disco era still finds its place and purpose in modern playlists.
Final Thoughts
ABBA has always been adept at crafting songs that are deceptively simple but packed with emotional and musical sophistication. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” is a master class in pop songwriting and production. It captures the zeitgeist of its time while remaining timeless, embodying the universal quest for connection and solace. In the vast pantheon of pop music, this track holds a special place, not just as a relic of disco’s heyday but as a continuous source of inspiration and joy.
Musical Composition and Production
From the outset, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” grabs the listener with its immediately recognizable synth riff, a hallmark of late ’70s and early ’80s disco. Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, the masterminds behind ABBA’s sound, harness the power of synthesizers to create a pulsating backdrop that propels the song forward. The blend of Agnetha Fältskog’s and Anni-Frid Lyngstad’s voices adds a layer of complexity to the track, giving it a haunting yet alluring quality.
The production showcases ABBA’s signature lush harmonies and polished instrumentation. Layer upon layer of sound gives the track a full-bodied feel, making it nearly impossible not to want to get up and dance. The use of strings and an insistent bassline provides the track with a relentless energy that keeps it in perpetual motion.
Lyrical Analysis
On the lyrical front, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” presents a narrative of loneliness and longing. The protagonist is depicted in a state of desolation, exacerbated by the solitude of a late evening. Lines like “Half past twelve / And I’m watching the late show in my flat all alone / How I hate to spend the evening on my own” vividly describe a scene many of us can relate to: the loneliness that can hit hardest in the quiet hours of the night.
The recurring plea, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! a man after midnight,” serves as both a literal and metaphorical cry for companionship. It’s not just about the physical presence of a man, but the desire for a deeper connection to help “chase these shadows away.” The night becomes a symbol of the protagonist’s emotional darkness, and the break of day represents a hope for renewal and escape from her isolated reality.
Cultural Impact
The song’s cultural impact is monumental. It’s been covered and sampled numerous times, perhaps most notably in Madonna’s “Hung Up,” which prominently features that iconic synth riff. This intertextuality underscores the song’s enduring influence in pop music. It’s a reminder of how ABBA’s work continues to inspire contemporary artists and remains relevant across generations.
Artistic Merit
What sets “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” apart is its ability to marry vulnerability with irresistible dance beats. The duality of despair and hope is encapsulated within a joyous soundscape, capturing the essence of the human experience. That emotional complexity is often elusive in pop music, making this track a standout in ABBA’s illustrious discography.
From its expertly crafted production to its poignant lyrics, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” is more than just a dance track; it’s a cultural artifact that represents a bygone era while continuing to influence and captivate. It’s a testament to ABBA’s genius that a song rooted in the disco era still finds its place and purpose in modern playlists.
Final Thoughts
ABBA has always been adept at crafting songs that are deceptively simple but packed with emotional and musical sophistication. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” is a master class in pop songwriting and production. It captures the zeitgeist of its time while remaining timeless, embodying the universal quest for connection and solace. In the vast pantheon of pop music, this track holds a special place, not just as a relic of disco’s heyday but as a continuous source of inspiration and joy.
Lyrics of Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) by ABBA
Half past twelve
And I'm watching the late show in my flat all alone
How I hate to spend the evening on my own
Autumn winds
Blowing outside the window as I look around the room
And it makes me so depressed to see the phone
There's not a soul out there
No one to hear my prayer
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase these shadows away
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
Movie stars
Find the end of the rainbow, with that fortune to win
It's so different from the world I'm living in
Tired of T.V
I open the window and I gaze into the night
But there's nothing there to see, no one in sight
There's not a soul out there
No one to hear my prayer
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase these shadows away
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight…
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight…
There's not a soul out there
No one to hear my prayer
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase these shadows away
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase these shadows away
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
And I'm watching the late show in my flat all alone
How I hate to spend the evening on my own
Autumn winds
Blowing outside the window as I look around the room
And it makes me so depressed to see the phone
There's not a soul out there
No one to hear my prayer
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase these shadows away
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
Movie stars
Find the end of the rainbow, with that fortune to win
It's so different from the world I'm living in
Tired of T.V
I open the window and I gaze into the night
But there's nothing there to see, no one in sight
There's not a soul out there
No one to hear my prayer
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase these shadows away
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight…
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight…
There's not a soul out there
No one to hear my prayer
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase these shadows away
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Won't somebody help me chase these shadows away
Gimme gimme gimme a man after midnight
Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
Discography ABBA
Voyage
Release: 2021-11-05
Label: Polar Music International AB
Popularity: 👏👏👏
1. I Still Have Faith In You
2. When You Danced With Me
3. Little Things
4. Don’t Shut Me Down
5. Just A Notion
6. I Can Be That Woman
7. Keep An Eye On Dan
8. Bumblebee
9. No Doubt About It
10. Ode To Freedom
Tracklist
Collapse
2. When You Danced With Me
3. Little Things
4. Don’t Shut Me Down
5. Just A Notion
6. I Can Be That Woman
7. Keep An Eye On Dan
8. Bumblebee
9. No Doubt About It
10. Ode To Freedom
Live At Wembley Arena
Release: 2014-01-01
Label: Polar Music International AB
Popularity: 👏👏
1. Gammal fäbodpsalm – Live
2. Voulez-Vous – Live
3. If It Wasn’t For The Nights – Live
4. As Good As New – Live
5. Knowing Me, Knowing You – Live
6. Rock Me – Live
7. Chiquitita – Live
8. Money, Money, Money – Live
9. I Have A Dream – Live
10. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – Live
11. SOS – Live
12. Fernando – Live
13. The Name Of The Game – Live
14. Eagle – Live
15. Thank You For The Music – Live
16. Why Did It Have To Be Me? – Live
17. Intermezzo No. 1 – Live
18. I’m Still Alive – Live
19. Summer Night City – Live
20. Take A Chance On Me – Live
21. Does Your Mother Know – Live
22. Hole In Your Soul – Live
23. The Way Old Friends Do – Live
24. Dancing Queen – Live
25. Waterloo – Live
Tracklist
Collapse
2. Voulez-Vous – Live
3. If It Wasn’t For The Nights – Live
4. As Good As New – Live
5. Knowing Me, Knowing You – Live
6. Rock Me – Live
7. Chiquitita – Live
8. Money, Money, Money – Live
9. I Have A Dream – Live
10. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – Live
11. SOS – Live
12. Fernando – Live
13. The Name Of The Game – Live
14. Eagle – Live
15. Thank You For The Music – Live
16. Why Did It Have To Be Me? – Live
17. Intermezzo No. 1 – Live
18. I’m Still Alive – Live
19. Summer Night City – Live
20. Take A Chance On Me – Live
21. Does Your Mother Know – Live
22. Hole In Your Soul – Live
23. The Way Old Friends Do – Live
24. Dancing Queen – Live
25. Waterloo – Live
Thank You For The Music
Release: 1994-01-01
Label: Polar Music International AB
Popularity: 👏👏
1. People Need Love
2. Another Town, Another Train
3. He Is Your Brother
4. Love Isn’t Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)
5. Ring Ring – English Version
6. Waterloo
7. Hasta Manana
8. Honey, Honey
9. Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)
10. So Long
11. I’ve Been Waiting For You
12. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
13. SOS
14. Mamma Mia
15. Fernando
16. Dancing Queen
17. That’s Me
18. When I Kissed The Teacher
19. Money, Money, Money
20. Crazy World
21. My Love, My Life
22. Knowing Me, Knowing You
23. Happy Hawaii
24. The Name Of The Game
25. I Wonder (Departure) – Live From Sydney Showground, Australia / 1977
26. Eagle
27. Take A Chance On Me
28. Thank You For The Music
29. Summer Night City
30. Chiquitita
31. Lovelight
32. Does Your Mother Know
33. Voulez-Vous
34. Angeleyes
35. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
36. I Have A Dream
37. The Winner Takes It All
38. Elaine
39. Super Trouper
40. Lay All Your Love On Me
41. On And On And On
42. Our Last Summer
43. The Way Old Friends Do – Live At Wembley Arena, London, England / 1979
44. The Visitors
45. One Of Us
46. Should I Laugh Or Cry
47. Head Over Heels
48. When All Is Said And Done
49. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
50. The Day Before You Came
Tracklist
Collapse
2. Another Town, Another Train
3. He Is Your Brother
4. Love Isn’t Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)
5. Ring Ring – English Version
6. Waterloo
7. Hasta Manana
8. Honey, Honey
9. Dance (While The Music Still Goes On)
10. So Long
11. I’ve Been Waiting For You
12. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do
13. SOS
14. Mamma Mia
15. Fernando
16. Dancing Queen
17. That’s Me
18. When I Kissed The Teacher
19. Money, Money, Money
20. Crazy World
21. My Love, My Life
22. Knowing Me, Knowing You
23. Happy Hawaii
24. The Name Of The Game
25. I Wonder (Departure) – Live From Sydney Showground, Australia / 1977
26. Eagle
27. Take A Chance On Me
28. Thank You For The Music
29. Summer Night City
30. Chiquitita
31. Lovelight
32. Does Your Mother Know
33. Voulez-Vous
34. Angeleyes
35. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
36. I Have A Dream
37. The Winner Takes It All
38. Elaine
39. Super Trouper
40. Lay All Your Love On Me
41. On And On And On
42. Our Last Summer
43. The Way Old Friends Do – Live At Wembley Arena, London, England / 1979
44. The Visitors
45. One Of Us
46. Should I Laugh Or Cry
47. Head Over Heels
48. When All Is Said And Done
49. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room
50. The Day Before You Came
Upcoming Events for ABBA
MANIA: The ABBA Tribute
Price Range: $27.5 – 55
Date: 2025-02-27
Location: Lexington Opera House
MANIA: The ABBA Tribute
Price Range: $29.5 – 64.5
Date: 2024-11-03
Location: Buckhead Theatre
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Location: Ovens Auditorium
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