Lyrics: Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)
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 gloom 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 the 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 a 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 the 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 the 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 the shadows away? Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight Take me through the darkness to the break of the day
Loneliness in the Late Hours
“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” by ABBA captures the deep sense of longing and solitude that can intensify late at night. The song opens with the singer alone in her flat, feeling the weight of loneliness while the world outside is cold and uninviting. The autumn winds and the gloom in the room mirror her somber mood, highlighting the emotional distance she feels from the world around her.
A Plea for Connection
The repeated refrain, “Gimme, gimme, gimme a man after midnight,” is both a catchy hook and a heartfelt plea. It expresses the desire for companionship and the hope that someone will come to banish the shadows of the night. The lyrics evoke a universal yearning for connection, especially during those quiet hours when loneliness feels most pronounced. The prayer for someone to “take me through the darkness to the break of the day” suggests not just a wish for romance, but also for emotional rescue and the comfort of human presence.
Escapism and Reality
In the second verse, the singer contrasts the glamorous lives of movie stars with her own reality. While celebrities chase dreams and fortunes, she finds herself bored and isolated, looking out into the night for something—anything—to break the monotony. This juxtaposition emphasizes the gap between fantasy and reality, a common theme for many who find solace in media but still crave real-life connections.
Enduring Appeal of a Disco Classic
The song’s infectious melody and relatable lyrics have made it an enduring favorite on dance floors around the world. Its driving disco beat and passionate vocal delivery transform a personal yearning into a communal anthem, inviting listeners to both move and empathize. “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” stands as a testament to ABBA’s ability to turn heartfelt emotion into pop perfection.
Song Credits
“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. The song was released in 1979 under the Polar Music label.