Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) - Wikipedia

About the Song

In the dynamic realm of 1970s pop music, ABBA’s “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)” stands as an enduring anthem, a catchy tune that has captivated audiences for decades. Released in 1979, the song’s infectious melody and poignant lyrics have cemented its place in popular culture, making it a beloved favorite among music lovers of all ages.

“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” is more than just a catchy tune; it’s a captivating narrative, a snapshot of a solitary night transformed by a yearning for connection and excitement. The song’s opening lines, “Half past twelve and I’m watching the late show in my flat all alone,” paint a vivid picture of isolation and longing. The narrator, confined to their apartment, craves a spark of excitement, a break from the monotony of their solitary existence.

The song’s chorus explodes with energy, perfectly capturing the narrator’s desperate plea for connection: “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! A man after midnight won’t somebody help me chase the shadows away?” The lyrics yearn for a companion, someone to dispel the loneliness and usher in a night of revelry.

ABBA’s signature sound is on full display in “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!”. The infectious melody, driven by a pulsating beat and sparkling synth arpeggios, is instantly recognizable. The group’s vocal harmonies, a hallmark of their sound, soar above the instrumental backdrop, adding layers of emotion and depth to the song.

The song’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to capture the universal human desire for connection and escape. Whether you’re feeling lonely, restless, or simply in need of a pick-me-up, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” is the perfect song to lift your spirits and remind you that there’s always a chance for excitement and joy, even in the darkest of nights.

“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” has been covered by countless artists over the years, each adding their own unique interpretation to the song. However, ABBA’s original version remains the definitive one, a testament to their enduring talent and the song’s timeless appeal.

As the years go by, “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” continues to resonate with listeners, its melody and message as fresh and relevant as ever. It’s a song that reminds us of the power of music to transport us, to evoke emotions, and to connect us to something larger than ourselves. So, the next time you find yourself feeling lonely or yearning for excitement, turn up the volume and let “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” transport you to a world of shimmering lights, pulsating rhythms, and the promise of a night to remember.

Dancing Queen — Theresa May danced to it, but the Abba song speaks to all of us — FT.com

Video

Lyrics: Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!

Half past twelve
And I’m watching the late show
In my flat all alone
How I hate to spend the evening on my ownAutumn winds
Blowing outside my window
As I look around the room
And it makes me so depressed to see the gloomIs there a man out there?
Someone to hear my prayersGimme, 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 dayMovie 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

Is there a man out there?
Someone 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

Is there a man out there?
Someone 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

You Missed

MINNIE PEARL WALKED ONSTAGE AT THE GRAND OLE OPRY FOR 50 YEARS WITH A $1.98 PRICE TAG ON HER HAT — AND THEN ONE NIGHT, SHE JUST COULDN’T ANYMORE. Here’s something most people don’t think about with Minnie Pearl. That price tag hanging off her straw hat? It wasn’t random. Sarah Cannon — that was her real name — created it as a joke about a country girl too proud of her new hat to take the tag off. And audiences loved it so much that it became the most recognizable prop in country music history. For over fifty years, that tag meant Minnie was here, and everything was going to be fun. So imagine what it felt like when she couldn’t put the hat on anymore. In June 1991, Sarah had a massive stroke. She was 79. And just like that, the woman who hadn’t missed an Opry show in decades was gone from the stage. But here’s what gets me. She didn’t die in 1991. She lived another five years after that stroke, mostly out of the public eye, unable to perform, unable to be “Minnie” the way she’d always been. Her husband Henry Cannon took care of her at their Nashville home. Friends visited, but they said it was hard. The woman who made millions of people laugh couldn’t get through a full conversation some days. Roy Acuff, her old friend from the Opry, kept her dressing room exactly the way she left it. Nobody used it. The hat sat there. She passed on March 4, 1996. And what most people remember is the comedy. The “HOW-DEEE” catchphrase. The big goofy grin. What they don’t remember is that Sarah Cannon was also a serious fundraiser for cancer research. Centennial Medical Center in Nashville named their cancer center after her — not after Minnie, after Sarah. She raised millions and rarely talked about it publicly. There’s a story about the very last time Sarah tried to put on the hat at home, months after the stroke, and what her husband said to her in that moment — it’s the kind of detail that makes you see fifty years of comedy completely differently. Roy Acuff kept Minnie Pearl’s dressing room untouched for years after she left — was that loyalty to a friend, or was he holding a door open for someone he knew was never coming back?