Video: ABBA plays their song Chiquitita at the UN Headquarters fundraiser for UNICEF 1979.
The song “Chiquitita” was featured in the Music for UNICEF Concert, broadcast worldwide from the United Nations General Assembly in 1979. As a direct result of this event, ABBA donated 50% of all royalties from the song to UNICEF. As of 2021, the song’s royalties have raised $4.8 million for the charity.
Co-composer and founding member of Abba, Bjorn Ulvaeus, said “I think that the most urgent thing that can be done on this globe is the empowerment of young women and girls. That would change our world,” he said. “It’s so sad that there are cultures and religions around the globe that just don’t give girls equal chances. So, early on we said to Unicef, that’s where we want our money to go.”
“Never in my wildest dreams could I have expected it would be so long-lasting and bring in so much money. It’s the best legacy anyone could wish for.”
Source: BBC – Guatemala school uses Unicef funds
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-64026345
About the Song
“Chiquitita” (“little girl” in Spanish) is a song released in January 1979 by Swedish pop group ABBA and written by Benny Goran Bror Andersson & Bjoern K. Ulvaeus. Agnetha Fältskog performed the lead vocals.
Lyrics for “Chiquitita”
Chiquitita, tell me what’s wrong
You’re enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow
How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you’re oh so sad, so quiet
Chiquitita, tell me the truth
I’m a shoulder you can cry on
Your best friend, I’m the one you must rely on
You were always sure of yourself
Now I see you’ve broken a feather
I hope we can patch it up together
Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they’re leaving
You’ll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
So the walls came tumbling down
And your love’s a blown out candle
All is gone and it seems too hard to handle
Chiquitita, tell me the truth
There is no way you can deny it
I see that you’re oh so sad, so quiet
Chiquitita, you and I know
How the heartaches come and they go and the scars they’re leaving
You’ll be dancing once again and the pain will end
You will have no time for grieving
Chiquitita, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above you
Let me hear you sing once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Try once more like you did before
Sing a new song, Chiquitita
Songwriters: Benny Goran Bror Andersson / Bjoern K. Ulvaeus
Chiquitita lyrics © Unicef Sweden