Take On Me Lyrics
I don't know what
I'm to say I'll say it anyway
Today's another day to find you
Shying away
I'll be coming for your love, okay?
Take me on (take on me)
I'll be gone
In a day or two
I'm odds and ends
Stumbling away
Slowly learning that life is okay
Say after me
It's no better to be safe than sorry
Take me on (take on me)
I'll be gone
In a day or two
Is it live or
Just to play my worries away
You're all the things I've got to remember
You're shying away
I'll be coming for you anyway
Take me on (take on me)
I'll be gone
In a day
Take me on (take on me)
I'll be gone (take on me)
In a day (take me on) (take on me)
Take me on (take on me)
Take on me

I think this song is about this guy who likes this girl but he doesn't know how to express it. I think the chorus is his thoughts.
"Talking away I don't know what I'm to say I'll say it anyway Today's another day to find you Shying away I'll be coming for you love, ok"
He's trying to get to know her but he's babbling not saying what he wants to say He's keeps talking but when it comes to telling him he likes her--he shys away (bites his tongue) but then he tells himself that he's going to get her one day.
Take on me Take me on I'll be gone In a day or two
This is in his head--he can't tell her how he feels so he's hoping she'd say and take him on because he feels like if she doesn't it won't go anywhere and he'll just end up giving up.
So needless to say I'm odds and ends, but upbeat Stumbling away Slowly learning that life is ok Say after me It's no better to be safe than sorry
he really wants to tell her and but he keeps stumbling on the opportunity so he convinces himself that he could do this but at the same time he's hoping she would just tell him to say it...bring it up in a sense or give him a sign for him to take a chance and risk it.
The things that you say Is it live or just to play My worries away? You're all the things I've got to remember You shying away I'll be coming for you anyway
It's deeper into their friendship and she's basically flirting with him and saying things but he doesn't know if it's for real or if she's just teasing him and playing games He feels good around her---she makes him feel no worries he can't stop thinking about her but now she's also shying away from the opportunity to say how she feels about him. Now it doesn't even matter to him anymore he's going to tell her how he feels.
Take on me Take me on I'll be gone In a day or two
he's basically told her or the process of telling be my girl---take a chance with me or he's leaving.

You can't think of the song without thinking about the video, which is still one of the best ever made.

Reminds me of that golden age of music and videos when this song came out. Also someone I left behind when I moved back home. Of course, I promised to write to her and of course, it never happened - and when I made it back almost a year later, she was long gone. Funny how life can make even the most optimistic among us want to cry sometimes. Strangely, I didn't realize just how great this song was until years later!

The lines "I'm shying away. I'll be coming for your love, OK" really start to tell the backstory. The first paragraph basically tells that the main character is leaving his girlfriend(Shying away), and is having trouble parting with her(I don't know what I'm to say I'll say it anyway), but that he'll return as soon as he can(Today's another day to find you I'll be coming for your love, OK?). The chorus is saying to make the most of the time they have left together(Take on me, take me on) and that the time they have together is running short(I'll be gone in a day or two.
The second paragraph states that the main character returns and is having trouble coping with his girlfriend's moving on(So needless to say, I'm odds and ends. I'll be stumbling away, slowly learning that life is OK). The following lines(Say after me, it's no better to be safe than sorry) is the main character trying to convince his girlfriend(Say after me) that being prepared for the worst is no better than going through it(It's no better to be safe than sorry).
The final stanza is about how the main character's girlfriend is trying to convince him to let go of the past(oh the things you'll say to me) by telling his that what happened was supposed to happen(Is it live or just to play my worries away). After that, the main character is telling his girlfriend that he's given up trying to let go(You're all the things I've got to remember) and the final lines are about how his ex has already left him behind(You're shying away), but he thinks she still cares enough to let him into her life again(I'll be coming for you anyway)
I don't know that the song is this specific...although I enjoyed reading your interpretation. I think the song is about the nature of first love...the magic, the insecurity...the awkwardness. "I'm no better to be safe than sorry...why not take a chance ...give me a try......"Take on Me". Shying away is more about the fear of taking a chance and being hurt.. if you look at the video, it is at odds with your theory...the girl finds him in the comic (love is first a dream)...she goes into the comic...falls in love...comes out...wonders if it was real...then the boy changes from...
I don't know that the song is this specific...although I enjoyed reading your interpretation. I think the song is about the nature of first love...the magic, the insecurity...the awkwardness. "I'm no better to be safe than sorry...why not take a chance ...give me a try......"Take on Me". Shying away is more about the fear of taking a chance and being hurt.. if you look at the video, it is at odds with your theory...the girl finds him in the comic (love is first a dream)...she goes into the comic...falls in love...comes out...wonders if it was real...then the boy changes from cartoon to human (love becomes real).There was no real split up or reconciliation...the whole theme was about making love happen.
@vonzhay Lets not read too much ... am Aha moment is intuitive and 30 yrs on this song has me transfixed, its not english take on me , not norweigan, its about taking a chance ..... its no better to be safe than sorry Tori Amos and Acquualungs covers confirm the songs depth and resonance ... its the choral crescendo that almost collapses before dropping back on key ... an orgasmic capella climbing like a vertical fjord of love and then crashing into the sea ... futile, exquisite and forever
@vonzhay Lets not read too much ... am Aha moment is intuitive and 30 yrs on this song has me transfixed, its not english take on me , not norweigan, its about taking a chance ..... its no better to be safe than sorry Tori Amos and Acquualungs covers confirm the songs depth and resonance ... its the choral crescendo that almost collapses before dropping back on key ... an orgasmic capella climbing like a vertical fjord of love and then crashing into the sea ... futile, exquisite and forever

On its face, the lyrics would seem to be about pursuing love; maybe a crush on some girl. But I think the lyrics are ultimately about death. Fleeting nature of life, and the need to risk (for love, or maybe just to live).
The conclusion of each chorus states: "I'll be gone in a day or two." Unless I'm crazy, that is a metaphor. It doesn't literally mean, a day or two, but I think it means we'll be gone before we know it.
Along a similar thread: "Slowly learning that life is okay; Say after me; It's no better to be safe than sorry." Not about a chick. More like the lessons you wanna figure out before you die.
Same thing with: "Is it live or; Just to play my worries away"
As an aside, the 2017 acoustic version of this song is almost painful its so good.
@ghlyrics it seems we feel the same way. I only saw these in order by highest rated, then I saw yours right under mine. At least I am not alone in my morbid interpretation!
@ghlyrics it seems we feel the same way. I only saw these in order by highest rated, then I saw yours right under mine. At least I am not alone in my morbid interpretation!
@ghlyrics Not morbid at all and I don’t even think it’s a question. This song is about the importance of living fully. That can certainly mean love, among other things! For New Years, I just shuffled my extensive song collection and the first song that came up was this one. I love it. Take on Me 2020!
@ghlyrics Not morbid at all and I don’t even think it’s a question. This song is about the importance of living fully. That can certainly mean love, among other things! For New Years, I just shuffled my extensive song collection and the first song that came up was this one. I love it. Take on Me 2020!

I love this song :) the video for it still amazes me, and my odd fascination with this song is just unexplainable: I love it!

this video is awesome, the song is awesome, the video is the best video ever, gotta love that weird, villian guy.

I remember the music video - it was awesome. i was little though, but thats okay. Vh1 played it sometimes. However, i absolutely love this song. Unfortunately everyone has to do a cover of this song, and they'll never do it as good as this origional.
This song is awesome and the rest of you that agree with me have amazing taste :) lol

I think this song is about a guy, who wants a girl, who's not sure that she wants to get into a relationship with said guy. Like when he goes "say after me, it's no better to be safe than sorry." it's like he's telling to take a chance on him.

Im only 14 and i grew up around this stuff and i love the 80s. Most people my age like Hip Hop and that stuf but not me i like the old music that actually has meaning.
@Silverdragon747 Hello, from the future. I too, feel the same.
@Silverdragon747 Hello, from the future. I too, feel the same.