Few songs in the ABBA catalogue capture the spirit of hope, innocence, and belief quite like “I Have a Dream.” Released in 1979 as part of their album Voulez-Vous, this gentle ballad offered a quiet but powerful counterpoint to the pulsating disco rhythms and layered harmonies that defined much of their late-70s output. While many of ABBA’s hits centered around love, heartbreak, and personal relationships, “I Have a Dream” stands out as a song of universal longing, a reminder of the light that can be found even in moments of uncertainty.
The song was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, as always, with Anni-Frid Lyngstad and Agnetha Fältskog alternating vocal duties throughout the album. In this case, it is Agnetha who takes the lead, and her delivery is nothing short of luminous. Her voice — clear, warm, and sincere — carries the melody with a kind of childlike purity, lending credibility to lyrics that could have otherwise been dismissed as overly sentimental. But in ABBA’s hands, sentiment becomes sincerity. “I have a dream, a song to sing,” she begins, and we believe her.
One of the most striking features of the track is the inclusion of a children’s choir, which enters during the second half of the song. Their voices lift the arrangement into something angelic and timeless, underscoring the song’s message of looking beyond today’s troubles toward a brighter tomorrow. The choir was recorded with students from the Stockholm International School, and their presence gives the track an added emotional weight — a reminder that dreams often begin in childhood, and that belief in something better can be a guiding force throughout life.
Musically, “I Have a Dream” is a departure from the synthesizer-driven pop of “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” or the pulsating dancefloor confidence of “Voulez-Vous.” The arrangement is built around acoustic guitar, gentle strings, and subtle background textures. It’s a composition of restraint and warmth, allowing the message to shine without distraction. The production, as always with ABBA, is meticulous — every note carefully placed, every harmony finely tuned, yet it never feels sterile. Instead, it feels deeply human.
Released as a single in December 1979, the song became a massive success, reaching No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and charting across Europe. Its success at the close of the decade felt fitting — as the 1970s ended and the world stepped into a new, uncertain era, “I Have a Dream” was a reminder of the power of imagination, belief, and the enduring comfort of music.
Over the decades, the song has become a staple of hope and celebration, covered by numerous artists and performed at countless events. Yet no version quite captures the gentle magic of ABBA’s original. It’s not just a pop ballad; it’s an anthem of resilience, sung not with grandeur but with grace.
Today, “I Have a Dream” continues to resonate — not just as a nostalgic favorite, but as a beacon of optimism, reminding listeners young and old that even in a world full of shadows, dreams still have wings.