To honour Stig Anderson's 50th birthday, ABBA recorded this tribute song for him which was recorded on 18 and 20 January 1981. The music was written by Benny and Björn but the lyrics were co-written by Agnetha, Frida, Benny, Björn together with sound engineer Michael B. Tretow and designer Rune Söderqvist.  The song was all about Stig and was light-hearted and funny.  A translation (and explanation of some of the lyrics) are in the TRANSCRIPT tab here.

To accompany the song ABBA made this accompanying PROMO, directed by Kurt Hjelte, wearing as much of their 1974 Waterloo outfits as they could fit into. However ....

1. Agnetha was not wearing the same blue satin pants worn in 1974 but a more "stretchy" version.
2. Benny did NOT wear jeans at Melodifestival or Eurovision Song Contest.
3. Björn wore a black t-shirt underneath his original outfit here which he didn't in 1974 - and he was wearing different boots.

I believe that only Frida was wearing the majority of her original outfit.

Hovas Vittne was released as a 12" single in red vinyl b/w the instrumental Tivedshambo (Stig's first hit) recorded at the same time as Hovas Vittne (Polar JUB 50).  Only 200 copies were pressed making it one of the most collectible of all ABBA's releases.

The PROMO was broadcast on Sunday 3 May 1981 on the programme Om Svar Anhålles (If an Answer is Received) and Stig was interviewed.

Björn anticipating the next camera angle half-way through the song

ENGLISH TRANSLATION (explanations in brackets)

Hova's Witness (a name-play with "Jehovah's Witness" - the religious sect. Hova is the small town in Sweden where Stig was born, situated in the western province of Västergötland).

From Hova came
There a country bumpkin with a good beat dragged and struggled and scampered
And so later on,
on major and minor (key)
He became richer than a troll
Now his days are filled with heavy decisions
Lukas (Stig's dog) must go out
The driveway must be salted (the way to Stig's house Villa Ekarne was quite high and to make it possible to walk on it during winter, it needed to be salted)
The sausage shall boil (Stig's favourite dish!)
Lukas must go out.

The witness of Hova
The voice of "Knallarna" (nickname for the country salesman from Västergötland)
The voice of Västergötland on earth
A singer's heart beats in your chest
The pen is glowing
The words fly up (this line is taken from a Swedish poem)
Quick heels are still beating (ie. you're still very young)
You are like a jehu (ie. A fast-moving object)
Hova's Witness never gives in
Hovas Witness
Full speed ahead, the flap to the top (Stig got a flagpole as a birthday present!).

At a party of yours
When you're sitting and feeling the best
You hear something buzzing
Your vacuum cleaner protest (when Stig thought a party was too loud or messy or gone on too long, he would start to tidy the place up and hoover!)
From your Parnassus (homeland of the goddess of song)
You take the plane First Class
Djurgården - Honolulu (Djurgården is the Stockholm island where Stig lived)
And if you get there
As planned
Your luggage is in Rome and Gudrun (Stig's wife) in Amsterdam!

CHORUS REPEAT

We and you are straw and clay (ie. we stick together)
Full speed backwards
Hova's witness no matter what happens
"Sticket" Stikkan (a "stick" is same melody but half a tone higher)
It has a right to be there this time
Even though you think the song is getting too long (Stig thought that a song should never be longer than 4 minutes if it was going to be a hit)

Sticket Stikkan
We have written in the belief
You'll be pleased if we raise
Half a tone (another thing Stig thought was necessary for a hit record).

CHORUS REPEAT

Hooray!

Hovas Vittne

Från Hova kom
Det en bonnläpp det svängde om
Släpa' och slet och snodde
Och sen så småningom
På dur och moll
Blev han rikare än ett troll
Nu e hans dagar fyllda utav tunga beslut
Lukas ska ut
Backen ska saltas
Korven ska kokas
Lukas ska ut

Hovas vittne
Knallarnas röst
Västergötlands stämma på jorden
Sångarhjärtat klappar i ditt bröst
Pennan glöder
Upp flyga orden
Raska klackar slå ännu
Som ett jehu är du
Hovas vittne ger aldrig upp
Hovas vittne
Full far framåt, flaggan i topp.

Hos dig på fest
När man sitter och trivs som mest
Hör man nånting som surrar
Din dammsugareprotest
Från din parnass
Tar du flyget i första klass
Djurgården - Honolulu
Och om du kommer fram
Enligt program
är ditt baggage i Rom och Gudrun i Amsterdam.

Hovas vittne
Knallarnas röst
Västergötlands stämma på jorden
Sångarhjärtat klappar i ditt bröst
Pennan glöder
Upp flyga orden
Raska klackar slå ännu
Som ett jehu är du

Vi och du är långhalm och ler
Full fart bakåt
Hovas vittne, vad som än sker
Sticket Stikkan
Det är befogat denna gång
Trots att du tycker att låten
Blir för lång
Sticket Stikkan
Det har vi skrivit i den tron
Att du blir glad om vi höjer
En halv ton

Hovas vittne
Knallarnas röst
Västergötlands stämma på jorden
Sångarhjärtat klappar i ditt bröst
Pennan glöder
Upp flyga orden
Raska klackar slå ännu
Som ett jehu är du
Hovas vittne ger aldrig upp
Hovas vittne
Full far framåt, flaggan i topp.

Hurra!

Berns;

Thanks to Ian Cole for backing me on on the Agnetha's pants issue!  Thanks to Robin Andersson for checking the lyrics and translation which originally came from Intermezzo Magazine No.3. Extra thanks to Sam Shervz, Jozsef, Oscar Smirnov and Carl Magnus Palm.
YouTube link c/o karleksang