Damn you, ABBA!
Turns out that “Fernando” is about completely different things in the original Swedish, and in the English version that was a big hit here in the states.
The Swedish version is about how 'tis better to have loved and lost, etc.
The English version is about the deep bond and pride of two who have fought together for their freedom in a revolutionary war.
…And they*** both*** make me cry! Oooh, there goes the big tough punk rocker, uh huh!
I did not know that about the Swedish version.
I always wondered what war the song was talking about. The Mexican War? But if they lost as the song says, they weren’t fighting for freedom, they were fighting to expell the invading Americans, and hold on to California et al.
Crossing the Rio Grande? Sounds like the Texas Revolution with the Alamo and all. But they didn’t lose that one.
I don’t know, Pancho Villa’s raids maybe?
I always thought in terms of conquistadores, dunno why. But Wikipedia says:
“The English version, with completely different lyrics by [Bjorn] Ulvaeus [who co-wrote the English lyrics], presents a vision of nostalgia for two veterans reminiscing in old age about a lost battle that they participated in during their younger days fighting under Emiliano Zapata in a battle of the Mexican revolution of 1910. This was confirmed by Bjorn Ulvaeus in an Abba special interview screened on December 31, 2008 in Australia.”
i’ll be surprised if “super trooper” is a direct swedish translation.
Nena’s German 99 Luftballons is better lyrically than the English 99 Red Balloons. I’m split between It’s all in the Gameand Haus der Drei Sonnen. Not a bad translation to equivocate the basic just, but there’s no House of the Three Suns and exploding spaceships in the English version. One seems more profound, one seems more practical.
Guess, there was just something in the air that night.