ABBA - Lay All Your Love On Me Lyrics

 ABBA - Lay All Your Love On Me Lyrics

I wasn't jealous before we met

Now every woman I see is a potential threat

And I'm possessive, it isn't nice

You've heard me saying that smoking was my only vice

But now it isn't true

Now everything is new

And all I've learned has overturned

I beg of you

Don't go wasting your emotion

Lay all your love on me

It was like shooting a sitting duck

A little small talk, a smile, and baby I was stuck

I still don't know what you've done with me

A grown-up woman should never fall so easily

I feel a kind of fear

When I don't have you near

Unsatisfied, I skip my pride

I beg you, dear

Don't go wasting your emotion

Lay all your love on me

Don't go sharing your devotion

Lay all your love on me

I've had a few little love affairs

They didn't last very long and they've been pretty scarce

I used to think I was sensible

It makes the truth even more incomprehensible

'Cause everything is new

And everything is you

And all I've learned has overturned

What can I do?

Don't go wasting your emotion

Lay all your love on me

Don't go sharing your devotion

Lay all your love on me

Don't go wasting your emotion

Lay all your love on me

Don't go sharing your devotion

Lay all your love on me

Don't go wasting your emotion

Lay all your love on me

### Analysis of ABBA's "Lay All Your Love On Me"

#### **Themes**:

1. **Possession and Jealousy**: The narrator describes feelings of jealousy that arose after falling in love, highlighting the possessive nature of their emotions ("Now every woman I see is a potential threat"). This theme speaks to the anxiety that love can bring when one feels vulnerable.

2. **Transformation Through Love**: The narrator expresses how love has completely changed their behavior and outlook on life ("And all I've learned has overturned"). This emphasizes the transformative power of love, leading the narrator to act in ways they wouldn’t have before.

3. **Dependence and Vulnerability**: The lyrics reflect emotional dependence, as the narrator feels incomplete without their partner near ("I feel a kind of fear when I don’t have you near"). There’s a strong sense of vulnerability, with the narrator pleading for undivided affection.

#### **Emotions**:

- **Fear and Insecurity**: The narrator feels an underlying fear of losing their partner’s attention and love, which fuels their jealousy and possessiveness.

- **Desperation**: The repeated plea to "Lay all your love on me" conveys a sense of desperation to keep their partner’s exclusive devotion.

- **Awe and Wonder**: There’s a sense of wonder about how love has overtaken the narrator’s life and personality, leading to a surrender of previous logic and independence.

#### **Key Terms**:

- **Jealous**: A primary driver of the emotional turmoil expressed in the song.

- **Emotion/Devotion**: These words emphasize the narrator's need for exclusivity in their partner’s affection.

- **New/Overturned**: Reflects the personal transformation and loss of former self-assurance caused by love.

#### **Notable Lines**:

- **"Now every woman I see is a potential threat"**: This line captures the narrator's possessiveness and fear of competition for their partner’s affection.

- **"All I’ve learned has overturned"**: Demonstrates the complete emotional upheaval and transformation brought on by love.

- **"Don't go wasting your emotion, lay all your love on me"**: This repeated chorus conveys the urgency and plea for undivided attention and affection.

#### **Overall Message**:

"Lay All Your Love On Me" is a song about the intense emotions that love can bring—ranging from jealousy and fear of losing a partner, to the overwhelming transformation it causes in someone’s life. The lyrics reflect the narrator’s desire for exclusive attention and love from their partner, highlighting the emotional dependency that romantic relationships can evoke. The message suggests that love can both empower and disarm, leading to feelings of vulnerability but also deep passion.