When most listeners think of ABBA, they remember the glittering hits—“Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “Take a Chance on Me”—songs filled with buoyant energy, pop sparkle, and emotional immediacy. But nestled within their 1977 album ABBA: The Album is a track that soars above the rest—both literally and metaphorically. That song is “Eagle,” a sweeping, expansive piece that shows ABBA at their most ambitious, experimental, and atmospheric.
Released as a single in May 1978 in select countries (notably Germany, France, and Australia), “Eagle” stands apart from the group’s radio-friendly hits. At over 5 minutes in its original album version, the song is one of ABBA’s longest recordings, and it takes full advantage of its length. Rather than rushing toward a hook, “Eagle” unfolds gradually—almost like a journey in sound. It is cinematic in scope, philosophical in tone, and progressive in style, revealing a side of ABBA that is often overshadowed by their chart-topping fame.
Musically, “Eagle” draws inspiration from progressive rock, psychedelic textures, and even Pink Floyd-esque spatial dynamics. The track opens with a wash of synthesizers, a delayed guitar riff reminiscent of soaring wings, and a pulsing rhythm that mimics flight. Benny Andersson’s keyboards and Lasse Wellander’s echoing guitar lines set the tone: airy, mysterious, and grand.
Lyrically, “Eagle” is an allegory for freedom, self-discovery, and spiritual elevation. “They came flying from far away / Now I’m under their spell,” the lyrics begin—not in the voice of a pop star, but of someone awestruck by the majesty of a creature that symbolizes release and transformation. The eagle becomes a metaphor for rising above life’s limits, escaping the mundane, and seeing the world from a broader, wiser perspective.
Agnetha Fältskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad trade lead vocals with breathtaking unity, their harmonies as light and open as the skies the song describes. There is both serenity and power in their delivery, perfectly mirroring the song’s themes. They don’t shout—they glide.
What’s especially remarkable about “Eagle” is that it was created at a time when ABBA was exploring deeper artistic territory. ABBA: The Album was written alongside the group’s first major film project, ABBA: The Movie, and it features some of their most sophisticated material to date, including “The Name of the Game” and “Thank You for the Music.” But “Eagle” is its most spacious and meditative track—a moment of breathing room in the midst of fame, flashbulbs, and frenetic touring.
Though not as commercially successful as other ABBA singles, “Eagle” has gained cult admiration among fans and critics who see it as one of the group’s most underrated and artistically daring compositions. Its musical architecture—lengthy instrumental passages, layered production, and thematic depth—reveals just how far ABBA was willing to push their pop boundaries.
In retrospect, “Eagle” feels like a creative outlier, but also a glimpse into the kind of music ABBA might have made had they pursued a more experimental path. It shows that beneath the polished pop veneer, the band harbored a longing for more expansive, poetic expression. And they delivered it here—with elegance, restraint, and vision.
Today, “Eagle” remains one of ABBA’s most haunting and spiritually resonant songs. It doesn’t beg for the spotlight. It soars above it.