Lyrics: The Day Before You Came
I must have left my house at eight, because I always do
My train, I’m certain, left the station just when it was due
I must have read the morning paper going into town
And having gotten through the editorial, no doubt I must have frowned
I must have made my desk around a quarter after nine
With letters to be read, and heaps of papers waiting to be signed
I must have gone to lunch at half past twelve or so
The usual place, the usual bunch
And still on top of this I’m pretty sure it must have rained
The day before you came
I must have lit my seventh cigarette at half past two
And at the time I never even noticed I was blue
I must have kept on dragging through the business of the day
Without really knowing anything, I hid a part of me away
At five I must have left, there’s no exception to the rule
A matter of routine, I’ve done it ever since I finished school
The train back home again
Undoubtedly I must have read the evening paper then
Oh yes, I’m sure my life was well within its usual frame
The day before you came
Must have opened my front door at eight o’clock or so
And stopped along the way to buy some Chinese food to go
I’m sure I had my dinner watching something on TV
There’s not, I think, a single episode of Dallas that I didn’t see
I must have gone to bed around a quarter after ten
I need a lot of sleep, and so I like to be in bed by then
I must have read a while
The latest one by Marilyn French or something in that style
It’s funny, but I had no sense of living without aim
The day before you came
And turning out the light
I must have yawned and cuddled up for yet another night
And rattling on the roof I must have heard the sound of rain
The day before you came
Exploring the Meaning of “The Day Before You Came”
Monotony and Reflection
“The Day Before You Came” by ABBA is a hauntingly introspective song that paints a vivid picture of routine and loneliness. The lyrics meticulously detail the narrator’s daily life, filled with repetitive actions and emotionless habits. Each line is laced with uncertainty—”I must have”—emphasizing how unremarkable and forgettable life felt before a transformative relationship. The rain and the mundane activities, such as reading the paper and watching TV, underscore a sense of emptiness and isolation.
The Power of Change
The song’s brilliance lies in its subtlety. By focusing on the day before a significant person entered the narrator’s life, it highlights the profound impact that love and connection can have. The ordinary becomes meaningful in hindsight, and what was once unnoticed—like the rain or a yawn—takes on new emotional weight. The song invites listeners to reflect on their own lives and the moments that divide the “before” and “after” of love.
Song Credits
Songwriters: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
Release Year: 1982
Label: Polar Music