Fernando was one of ABBA's biggest hits. There's a lot of debate about which war it refers to. The song mentions crossing the Rio Grande and that prompts many people in America to think of the Mexican revolution of 1910-1920. However, there aren't many examples of fighting that took place near the Rio Grande and there aren't too many examples of revolutionaries who crossed into Mexico from the USA.
Most people assume the song is about the Spanish civil war and the reference to the Rio Grande is just a generic reference to a river. Keep in mind that ABBA is a European group and the Spanish Civil War is still fresh in the memories of many europeans. For many it was glorious, but losing, fight against fascism.
The song refers to Fernando, a man who fought on the losing side against tyranny and fascism. Fernando was a revolutionary and a guerrilla fighter. He is now old and gray like many of the freedom fighters from all over Europe who went to Spain in the 1930's.
John McCain likes ABBA. I hope he appreciates that this song is about people who fought to defend their country from foreign domination. (Franco was supported by Hitler and Mussolini.)
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