Introduction
“Move On” is a song by Swedish pop group ABBA, featured as the opening track on their 1981 album The Visitors. Written by ABBA members Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, with lyrics by Ulvaeus, “Move On” is one of the more introspective and melancholic songs in the band’s catalog. Its release marked a shift in ABBA’s sound, as the group moved away from their earlier, more upbeat and disco-oriented hits and embraced a more mature, reflective style.
The song’s lyrics are about moving forward in life, letting go of the past, and accepting that change is inevitable. The narrator encourages a sense of forward momentum, despite life’s challenges and emotional difficulties. This theme of transition resonates with the context of ABBA’s own evolving circumstances in the early ’80s. By this time, the group members were experiencing personal changes, including the breakdown of the marriages between Benny and Anni-Frid (Frida), and Björn and Agnetha. As such, the song carries an undercurrent of bittersweet emotion, with a sense of resolution and the quiet strength needed to face the future.
Musically, “Move On” features ABBA’s signature lush harmonies, with a more subdued and orchestral arrangement compared to their previous disco-heavy tracks. The song’s sophisticated production reflects the group’s growth as musicians, blending pop, classical, and even progressive rock influences. Though it was not released as a single, “Move On” has since been regarded as one of the album’s highlights and a fan favorite, particularly for its emotional depth and mature sound.
“Move On” represents ABBA’s artistic evolution, serving as both a reflection of personal and professional transitions and a fitting opening to The Visitors, which is often seen as the band’s most complex and emotionally nuanced album.