Introduction
“Soldiers” is a track by the Swedish pop group ABBA, featured on their 1981 album The Visitors. This album was ABBA’s final studio release before their break-up, and it marked a shift in their musical style, characterized by more mature and introspective themes. Soldiers fits into this transition, offering a somber and reflective look at the impact of war and the suffering it causes.
The song is notable for its emotional depth, addressing themes of loss, hardship, and the sense of disillusionment experienced by soldiers. It features ABBA’s signature harmonies, but the arrangement is darker and more restrained compared to their earlier, more upbeat pop hits. Lyrically, Soldiers reflects a sense of vulnerability and the trauma faced by those involved in war, offering a powerful commentary on the human cost of conflict.
While Soldiers was not released as a single and did not achieve significant commercial success, it has remained one of the more poignant tracks in ABBA’s catalog. It is appreciated by fans for its introspective nature and its exploration of serious, universal themes, marking the group’s willingness to tackle deeper subject matter in their music.
The song fits within the broader context of The Visitors, an album that often dealt with themes of change, uncertainty, and emotional struggle. “Soldiers” stands as a reflection of ABBA’s evolving sound and the personal and political influences that shaped their work during their final years as a band.