“Take On Me” is a synth-pop track by Norwegian band a-ha about a guy trying to convince a girl to give him a chance. He’d rather risk rejection than leave without trying.
Below you’ll find a breakdown of the lyrics in “Take On Me.”
- Song: Take On Me
- Artist: a-ha
- Songwriters: Pål Waaktaar, Magne Furuholmen, Morten Harket
- Released: 1984
- Album: Hunting High and Low
- Genre: Synth-pop, New wave
What is “Take On Me” About?
Verse 1: She Keeps Pulling Back
We’re talking away
I don’t know what I’m to say
I’ll say it anyway
He’s nervous. He doesn’t have the right words ready, but he’s going for it anyway. Something about this girl is making him push past his usual hesitation.
Today is another day to find you
Shyin’ away
I’ll be comin’ for your love, okay?
This isn’t the first time she’s done this. She keeps retreating, and he keeps showing up. He’s almost resigned to the cycle, like he already knows how it’s going to go but can’t stop himself.
Chorus: Give Me a Chance
Take on me
Take me on
He wants her to stop hesitating and just go for it.
She definitely knows how he feels, and now he’s asking her to meet him halfway.
I’ll be gone
In a day or two
He’s not going to be around for long, which is part of why he’s so desperate to hear her say that she feels the same way.
He’s also using his departure as part of his case. Even if it doesn’t work out, he won’t be sticking around to make things complicated, so what’s she really risking?
Verse 2: Playing It Safe Is No Guarantee
So, needless to say
I’m odds and ends
He knows he’s not perfect.
“Odds and ends” means he feels scattered or incomplete, a work in progress.
But I’ll be stumblin’ away
Slowly learnin’ that life is okay
Despite feeling lost, there’s progress. He’s figuring things out as he goes.
He’s not a polished guy with all the answers, but he’s growing, and he knows that life is going to be alright.
Say after me
“It’s no better to be safe than sorry”
The old saying goes “better safe than sorry,” meaning don’t take risks.
He flips it, saying that holding back doesn’t actually protect you from a bad outcome.
Sometimes holding back is exactly what you’ll regret.
Verse 3: Is She Just Telling Him What He Wants to Hear?
All the things that you say
Yeah, is it life or just to play my worries away?
He’s starting to wonder whether she actually means what she says, or whether she’s just giving him enough to stay hopeful without ever really committing.
What he’s really asking here is, “Are you being honest with me?”
You’re all the things I’ve got to remember
She’s become something significant to him.
Whatever happens, she’s become a major part of how he’s going to remember this time.
You’re shyin’ away
I’ll be comin’ for you anyway
Back to the same pattern. She retreats, he advances.
Despite his doubts about whether she’s being real with him, he’s still not giving up.
He’d rather take the risk and find out than protect himself and wonder.
“Take On Me” Song Meaning: Daring to Be Vulnerable
“Take On Me” is about refusing to let self-doubt win. He knows he’s a work in progress, and he knows she keeps pulling back, but he goes for it anyway.
Every verse is him talking himself into the same decision that showing up is worth the risk. He’s not waiting for the perfect moment because there isn’t one.
Songs Like “Take On Me”
If you’re a fan of “Take On Me,” here are some songs with similar themes:
1. “Take a Chance on Me” by ABBA
This classic disco-pop tune is about someone making themselves available to a love interest who keeps hesitating.
2. “Don’t You Want Me” by Human League
“Don’t You Want Me” is a 1981 synth-pop song about two people telling completely different versions of the same relationship. One person is desperate for the other to stay, while the other has already moved on and made her own way.
3. “Can’t Fight This Feeling” by REO Speedwagon
This 1980s power ballad is about someone who’s been holding his feelings back for a long time and finally decides he can’t stay quiet anymore.
Conclusion: Going for It Anyway
More than anything, “Take On Me” is about taking chances to avoid potential regrets. It also happens to have one of the most memorable choruses (and best music videos) of the ’80s.
If you’ve never seen it before, check out the MTV Unplugged version of the song, which makes the meaning come through a bit clearer:
Find “Take On Me” and many other great songs on the Best One-Hit Wonders list!
