"The Winner Takes It All" - which had the original demonstration title "The Story of My Life" - was written by Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, with Agnetha Fältskog singing the lead vocal.
Ulvaeus denies the song is about his and Fältskog's divorce, saying the basis of the song "is the experience of a divorce, but it's fiction."
Fältskog has repeatedly stated that though "The Winner Takes It All" is her favorite ABBA song and that it has an excellent set of lyrics, the story is not that of her and Ulvaeus: there were no winners in their divorce, especially as children were involved.
In a 1999 poll for Channel 5, "The Winner Takes It All" was voted Britain's favorite ABBA song.
In a 2006 poll for a Channel Five programme, "The Winner Takes It All" was voted "Britain's Favourite Break-Up Song."