<P> "Fernando" was not originally released as an ABBA song but by band member Anni - Frid Lyngstad . It was featured on her No. 1 Swedish solo album Frida ensam (1975). The song was composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and carried the working title of "Tango". Preparations for recording began in August 1975 . The writers made last - minute changes to the title before recording . The suggestion of the name "Fernando" was given by their limousine driver Peter Forbes in Shepperton, England . </P> <P> The original Swedish - language version's lyrics were written by ABBA's manager Stig Anderson and differ substantially from the English - language version . In the original, the narrator tries to console the heartbroken Fernando, who has lost his great love . "The sorrow can be hard to bear, but the fact that friends let us down is something we all have to cope with". The chorus' lyrics are: "Long live love, our best friend, Fernando . Raise your glass and propose a toast to it; to love, Fernando . Play the melody and sing a song of happiness . Long live love, Fernando". </P> <P> The English version, with completely different lyrics by Björn Ulvaeus, presents a vision of nostalgia for two veterans reminiscing in old age about a long ago battle in which they participated . "I wrote all the songs as little stories . "Fernando" was about two old freedom - fighters from the war between Texas and Mexico . I was lying outside one summer night, looking at the stars and it suddenly came to me ". "I knew that the title' Fernando' had to be there, and after pondering a while, I had this vivid image in my mind of two old and scarred revolutionaries in Mexico sitting outside at night talking about old memories". The Mexican Revolution of 1910 began on 20 November of that year when a small force of revolutionaries led by Francisco Madero crossed the Rio Grande, from Texas to Mexico . </P> <P> The B - side to "Fernando" was the song "Hey, Hey, Helen", a track from the group's self - titled third studio album (1975), although in some countries "Tropical Loveland" (also from the album ABBA) was used instead . Some copies of the single use "Rock Me" or "Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)" as a B - side . </P>

What war is the abba song fernando about