Lyrics: “I’m A Marionette” by ABBA
"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
Exploring the Meaning of “I’m A Marionette”
The Illusion of Freedom
“I’m A Marionette” opens with a striking contrast: while everyone insists the narrator is “so free,” she feels anything but liberated. The sense of being “pushed around” and out of place, “like King Kong,” hints at the pressure of public scrutiny and the disconnect between public perception and personal reality. This duality sets the stage for a song that explores the struggle for autonomy in a world of expectations.
A Life Controlled by Others
The marionette metaphor lies at the heart of the song. ABBA paints a vivid picture of someone who is not in control of their own actions—”like a doll, like a puppet with no will at all.” The repeated lines, “pull the string” and “just as long as I sing,” highlight the transactional nature of fame and the loss of individuality. The narrator becomes “everybody’s pet,” valued only for performance and compliance, while personal desires and identity are suppressed.
The Emotional Toll of Performance
Beneath the catchy melody lies a theme of emotional exhaustion. The lyrics reveal vulnerability—”something’s happening I can’t control, lost my hold, is it safe?”—as well as the pressure to maintain a cheerful façade. The instruction to “look this way, just a little smile” underscores the demand for constant performance, both on and off stage. The song cleverly uses imagery of pirouettes and clowning to emphasize the cycle of pleasing others at the expense of one’s own happiness.
Searching for Authenticity
By the end of the song, the marionette returns to the refrain of feeling like a “refugee,” emphasizing a longing to escape imposed roles and reclaim self-direction. “I’m A Marionette” stands as a powerful commentary on the price of fame, the loneliness it can bring, and the universal struggle to be true to oneself in a world that often values conformity over authenticity.
Song Credits
“I’m A Marionette” was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus. It was released by ABBA in 1977 as part of their album “ABBA: The Album.” The track was issued under the Polar Music label.