The city is a jungle. You'd better take care Never walk alone after midnight If you don't believe me, you'd better beware Of me! I am behind you I always find you I am the tiger People who fear me Never come near me I am the tiger The city is a nightmare, a horrible dream Some of us will dream it forever Look around the corner, and try not to scream It's me! I am behind you I always find you I am the tiger People who fear me Never come near me I am the tiger Yellow eyes are glowing like the neon lights Yellow eyes, the spotlights of the city nights I am behind you I always find you I am the tiger People who fear me Never come near me I am the tiger The city is a prison. You'll never escape You're forever trapped in the alleys Look into the shadows, and you'll see the shape Of me! I am behind you I always find you I am the tiger People who fear me Never come near me I am the tiger Yellow eyes are glowing like the neon lights Yellow eyes, the spotlights of the city nights I am behind you I always find you I am the tiger People who fear me Never come near me I am the tiger And if I meet you What if I eat you? I am the tiger I am behind you I always find you I am the tiger Tiger! (Tiger!) Tiger!
Unpacking the Lyrics: The Urban Jungle
Tiger by ABBA presents the city as a treacherous, wild place, drawing comparisons to a jungle teeming with unseen dangers. The repeated warning, “You’d better take care,” sets a tone of suspense, cautioning listeners about the risks that lurk in the city after dark. The lyrics cleverly use the metaphor of a tiger—stealthy, powerful, and predatory—to personify the hidden threats that exist within urban environments.
The Stalker in the Shadows
The song shifts between the perspective of the city’s predator and its potential victims. Phrases like “I am behind you, I always find you” evoke a sense of being watched or followed, heightening the tension and sense of dread. The tiger becomes an omnipresent force, embodying fear itself. This haunting motif is amplified by references to glowing yellow eyes—mirroring both a predator’s gaze and the city’s neon lights—blending the natural and urban worlds.
Fear, Isolation, and the City
Throughout the lyrics, the city is depicted as both a nightmare and a prison. Lines such as “You’re forever trapped in the alleys” and “Some of us will dream it forever” suggest a cycle of fear and entrapment that’s hard to escape. The relentless repetition of “I am the tiger” gives the sense of an inescapable threat, making the listener feel the city’s claustrophobic grip.
Symbolism and Interpretation
The tiger represents more than just physical danger; it symbolizes the anxieties and challenges of city life. The warning not to walk alone and the allusion to people who “fear me, never come near me” could reflect the social isolation and vigilance that urban living sometimes demands. The song’s energy and imagery evoke a cinematic sense of suspense, making it both memorable and thought-provoking.
Song Credits
Song: Tiger
Artist: ABBA
Songwriters: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
Release Year: 1976
Label: Polar Music