It is that one specific moment. You know the one. The screen glows with a soft, ethereal light as Sophie stands at the front of the chapel for her son’s christening, and suddenly, Donna—the younger and the older versions, played by Lily James and Meryl Streep—appears. They aren't really there, but they are. My Love, My Life starts to play. Honestly, if you didn’t have a lump in your throat watching that scene in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, you might actually be a robot.
Music in the Mamma Mia! universe usually leans toward the campy, the glittery, and the over-the-top fun of 1970s Swedish pop. We want to dance. We want to shout "Waterloo" at the top of our lungs. But this song is different. It’s the emotional spine of the sequel. While the first film was a celebration of finding one’s identity, the second film, and specifically the inclusion of My Love, My Life, is a meditation on the cyclical nature of motherhood, grief, and moving on.
People often mistake this song for a simple romantic ballad. It isn't. Not in the context of the film. Originally released on ABBA’s 1976 album Arrival, the track was a B-side kind of vibe compared to hits like "Dancing Queen." It was about a breakup. But through the lens of writer-director Ol Parker and the musical genius of Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, it was re-contextualized into a conversation between a mother and a daughter across the barrier of death.
The Massive Shift from ABBA’s Original Meaning
In the 1976 version, Agnetha Fältskog sings about the end of a relationship. It's beautiful, sure. It’s got that signature ABBA melancholy where the melody feels like a hug but the lyrics feel like a punch. The original lyrics focus on "images on the wall" and a "faded memory." It’s about a lover who is moving on.
When the production team for the 2018 sequel decided to use it, they didn't just cover it. They rewrote it. Björn Ulvaeus actually went back in and tweaked the lyrics to fit the narrative of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) and Donna. This is why the song feels so grounded in the story. It isn't just a pop song dropped into a movie. It’s a custom-built emotional vehicle.
Why the Lyrics Actually Matter
Think about the line: "In the mirror, I see you."
In the original, it’s about seeing a former lover’s reflection or influence. In the movie, it’s literal. Sophie looks in the mirror and sees her mother’s features. She sees the woman who raised her alone on a Greek island. This shift from romantic love to maternal legacy is what gives My Love, My Life its staying power. It taps into a universal human experience—the realization that we are becoming our parents, and the bittersweet beauty of that transformation.
👉 See also: When Was Kai Cenat Born? What You Didn't Know About His Early Life
The song functions as a goodbye. Meryl Streep’s character, Donna, has passed away by the time the sequel starts. This was a controversial move. Fans were mad. They wanted more Meryl. But by killing off the matriarch, the film allowed this song to serve as the ultimate closure. It's the "ghost" of Donna giving her blessing to the next generation.
The Vocal Performance: Streep vs. James vs. Seyfried
There is a specific texture to the vocals in this track. Amanda Seyfried has a very pure, almost operatic soprano. It’s clean. Then you have Lily James, who brings a grit and a "young Donna" energy. Finally, Meryl Streep enters with that seasoned, breathy, and incredibly emotive voice that only a three-time Oscar winner can deliver.
The arrangement starts small. Just a piano and a voice.
Slowly, it builds.
By the time the harmonies kick in, you’re hearing three different eras of a woman’s life colliding. It’s a technical nightmare to mix that and make it sound natural, but the soundtrack producers pulled it off. They kept the instrumentation relatively stripped back compared to the wall-of-sound approach used in "Super Trouper." This was a smart move. It allows the lyrics—and the breathing of the performers—to take center stage.
- Sophie’s Perspective: Fear of the future and the weight of legacy.
- Young Donna’s Perspective: The reckless joy of new life and the start of the journey.
- Older Donna’s Perspective: Peace, acceptance, and the "letting go" phase of parenting.
The Production Magic Behind the Scenes
Benny Andersson is famously a perfectionist. When he worked on the soundtrack for Here We Go Again, he insisted on recording the instruments first and then layering the vocals in a way that felt "live." Most modern movie musicals sound too processed. They sound like they were recorded in a sterile booth in Los Angeles.
✨ Don't miss: Anjelica Huston in The Addams Family: What You Didn't Know About Morticia
My Love, My Life feels like it’s happening in that chapel.
They used real strings. They used a real piano. If you listen closely, you can hear the sustain pedal. These tiny "imperfections" are what make the song feel human. In an era of AI-generated music and perfectly tuned vocals, the raw emotion in Seyfried’s voice when it slightly cracks is a breath of fresh air.
Interestingly, Meryl Streep recorded her parts in a very short window. She wasn't on set for the whole shoot. She came in, did her scenes, recorded her vocals, and left. Yet, her presence looms over the entire five-minute sequence. It’s a testament to her ability to inhabit a character even through a microphone.
Why We Are Still Talking About This Song Years Later
The Mamma Mia! franchise is often dismissed as "guilty pleasure" cinema. It's seen as fluff. But My Love, My Life challenges that. It addresses grief in a way that is accessible but not shallow.
The song has become a staple at funerals, graduations, and weddings. That’s a weird mix, right? But it makes sense. It’s a song about transitions. It’s about the "life" part of "my love, my life." It acknowledges that love doesn't end just because someone is no longer in the room.
The Discoverability Factor
If you search for the song today, you'll find thousands of TikToks and Reels using the audio for "mother-daughter" tributes. The algorithm loves it because the emotional arc is clear within 15 seconds. You start with the soft piano, and you end with the swelling choir. It is perfectly structured for the digital age, despite being based on a track from the mid-seventies.
🔗 Read more: Isaiah Washington Movies and Shows: Why the Star Still Matters
Moreover, the song helped the sequel outperform the original in terms of critical reception regarding its emotional depth. While the first film was a massive hit, the second film is often cited as the "better" movie because it actually has something to say about the passage of time. My Love, My Life is the primary reason for that shift.
Practical Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re going to dive back into the Mamma Mia! world, pay attention to the color palette during this song. Notice how the blues and whites of the chapel mirror the costumes from the 1970s flashbacks. It’s a visual bridge that matches the auditory bridge of the song.
- Listen for the harmonies: In the final chorus, notice how Lily James’s voice is tucked just under Amanda Seyfried’s. It’s symbolic of the mother supporting the daughter from "underneath."
- Check the lyrics: Look up the 1976 lyrics versus the 2018 lyrics. The subtle changes are a masterclass in adaptation.
- Watch the eyes: In the film, Meryl Streep doesn't look at the camera; she looks at the baby. It grounds the song in reality rather than making it a "music video" moment.
To really appreciate the craft, try listening to the "Instrumental" version first. You’ll hear the complexity of the arrangement that usually gets buried under the vocals. Then, go back to the full version. You’ll see how every violin swell is timed to an emotional beat in the performance.
The song isn't just a highlight of the movie; it's the heart of the entire story. It reminds us that while people leave, the love they planted keeps growing in the people they left behind. That is why My Love, My Life continues to resonate. It’s not just a song; it’s a piece of collective catharsis for anyone who has ever loved and lost.
Your Next Steps:
- Compare the original ABBA recording from Arrival with the film version to see how the tone shifts from "breakup" to "legacy."
- Watch the "The Making of Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" featurettes to see Benny Andersson’s process in the studio.
- If you're a musician, look for the sheet music; the chord progressions (moving from G major to more complex diminished chords) explain why the song feels so "unresolved" yet hopeful.