Introduction
💔 The Untold Anguish: Björn Ulvaeus’s Candid Confessions on Marriage to Agnetha Fältskog
For decades, ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus and Agnetha Fältskog epitomized the beautiful, talented on-stage couple. Yet, behind the shimmering curtain of global fame, their marriage was a private nightmare that eventually shattered the band. Years after their 1979 divorce, Björn reportedly revealed the deep-seated issues that led to the breakup, particularly how he delivered the news through the lyrics of their most painful song.
The raw story is rooted in the summer of 1979, when Björn and Benny Andersson began composing “The Winner Takes It All.” As Björn drifted from Agnetha, he poured his conflicting emotions into the lyrics, initially titled “The Story of My Life.” The writing process was reportedly fueled by whiskey, leading to a lyrical rush that captured the essence of their divorce in barely an hour.
The Divorce Written in Song
Björn’s chosen method for communicating his feelings was devastating: he presented Agnetha with the lyrics. Despite his later claims that the song was “fiction” and based only on the general experience of divorce, Agnetha’s reaction in the studio—she reportedly began to cry—confirmed the song’s profound, personal meaning.
The real tragedy lay in the long-term emotional cracks. Björn revealed that from the start, their relationship was intensely driven by their musical passion, but it lacked the stability needed for marriage. Agnetha developed crippling anxiety and possessiveness, constantly fearing cheating, stalking, and tragedy. The book notes that she experienced night terrors and was “often on edge” due to her intense worries.
This clinginess, far from comforting Björn, began to disturb him, pushing him toward a colder, more controlling demeanor. He reportedly confessed that the required emotional facade on stage became “soul-destroying,” intensifying his desire to leave.
The Unequal Aftermath
The aftermath of the divorce starkly highlighted who was the true “winner.” Björn quickly moved on, finding new love with Lena Källersjö (a marriage that lasted 41 years) and continuing his successful professional partnership with Benny. He appeared mentally and physically healthier.
Agnetha, however, suffered profoundly. She found stardom difficult, and the combined pressure of divorce, single motherhood, and the death of her mother (and then her father a year later) took a severe toll on her mental health. She reportedly became mentally unwell, jumping between relationships—including one with her psychiatrist—and withdrawing into intense reclusion and suspicion.
The story of Björn and Agnetha confirms that while ABBA created eternal melodies, the human cost was immense. In their divorce, despite Björn’s claims of no clear winner, the subsequent decades suggest one person truly “took it all,” leaving the other to battle the deep scars of broken love in solitude.