Chess [musical] - Endgame #3 / Chess Game #3

[ANATOLY]

They all think they see a man

Who doesn't know

Which move to make

Which way to go

Whose private life

Caused his decline

Wrecked his grand design

Some are vicious

Some are fools

And others blind

To see in me

One of their kind

Anyone can be

A husband, lover

Sooner them than me

When they discover

Their domestic bliss is

Shelter for their failing

Nothing could be worse

Than self-denial

Having to reverse

This endless trial

Of a partner's rather

Sad demands prevailing

[SVETLANA]

As you watch yourself caring

About a minor sporting triumph

Sharing your win with esoterics

Paranoids, hysterics

You don't pay attention

To what goes on around them

They leave the ones they love

The way they found them

A normal person must

Dismiss you with disgust

And weep for those who trusted you

[ANATOLY]

Nothing you have said

Is revelation

Take my blues as red

My consolation's

Finding out at last

My one true obligation

[FLORENCE]

Since you seem to have shut out

The world at large

Then maybe I should cut out

Your tiny inessential

World-- inconsequential

In the kind of game you're playing

How do you do it?

I tried to be that cynical but blew it

I only changed your life

You left your home, your wife

I'm not surprised I slipped your mind

[ANATOLY]

Nothing you have said

Is revelation

Take my blues as red

My consolation

Finding out at last

My one true obligation

[FLORENCE, SVETLANA & SOLOISTS]

Listen to them shout

They saw you do it

In their minds, no doubt

That you've been through it

Suffered for your art

But in the end a winner

We have never heard

Such an ovation

Who could not be stirred?

Such dedication

Skill and guts

A model for the young beginner

They're completely enchanted

But they don't take your qualities for granted

It isn't very often

That the critics soften

Nonetheless you've won their hearts

How can we begin to

Appreciate the work that you've put into

Your calling through the years

The blood, and sweat and tears

The late, late nights, the early starts?

There they go again!

Your deeds inflame them

Drive them wild, but then

Who wants to tame them?

If they want a part of you

Who'd really blame them?

[ANATOLY]

And so

You're letting me know--

[FLORENCE]

You're the only one

Who's never suffered

Anything at all!

[ANATOLY]

How you've hated my success!

[SVETLANA]

Well, I won't crawl

And you can slink back

To your pawns

And to your tarts

[ANATOLY]

And every poison word

Shows that you never understood!

[ANATOLY] + (SVETLANA) + (SOLOISTS)

Never! (Liar!) (Check!)

Never! (Liar!) (Check!)

Never! (Liar!) (Check!)

Never! (Liar!) (Check!)

Never!

[FLORENCE, SVETLANA & SOLOISTS]

Nothing you have said

Is revelation

Take my blues as red

My consolation

Finding out that

I'm my only obligation

[ANATOLY]

Is there no one in my life

Who will not claim

My right to steal

My work, my name

My success, my fame

And my freedom?

[THE ARBITER, spoken]

Anatoly Sergievesky is the winner, and remains world champion

[Crowd applauds]

[FLORENCE, spoken]

So, you've done it. You're still the champion

[ANATOLY, spoken]

I had to win to be free

[FLORENCE, spoken]

Free for what?

[ANATOLY, spoken]

Free to help your father-- if I go back. Free to play chess-- it's the only thing I can stay true to

• Artist:Chess (musical)
• Album:ss In Concert (2008 Live)