Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, and Bjorn Ulvaeus

MOLOKOV:

  The man is utterly mad -- you're playing a lunatic --

  THE RUSSIAN:

  That's the problem. He's a brilliant lunatic and you can't

  tell

  which way

  he'll jump -- like his game he's impossible to analyse --

  you

  can't dissect

  him, predict him -- which of course means he's not a

  lunatic at

  all.

  MOLOKOV:

  What we've just seen's a pathetic display

  From a man who's beginning to crack

  He's afraid

  He knows he isn't the player he was

  And he won't get it back

  THE RUSSIAN:

  Nonsense!

  Why do my seconds

  Always want to believe

  Third-rate propaganda --

  MOLOKOV:

  My friend, please relax

  We're all on your side

  You know how you need us --

  THE RUSSIAN:

  I don't need my army of so-called 'advisors'

  And helpers to tell me

  The man who's revitalised chess single-handed

  Is more or less out of his brain

  When it's very clear

  He's sane

  MOLOKOV:

  Listen, we don't underestimate anyone

  We won't get caught in that trap

  After all, winning or losing reflects on us all --

  THE RUSSIAN:

  Oh don't give me that crap!

  I win -- no one else does

  And I take the rap if I lose

  MOLOKOV:

  It's not quite that simple

  The whole world's tuned in

  We're all on display

  We're not merely sportsmen --

  THE RUSSIAN:

  Oh please don't start spouting that old party line

  Yes I know it's your job but

  Just get out and get me a chess-playing second

  In thirty-six hours we begin

  That is if you want to win!

  Who needs a dream?

  Who needs ambition?

  Who'd be the fool

  In my position?

  Once I had dreams

  Now they're obsessions

  Hopes became needs

  Lovers possessions

  Then they move in

  Oh so discreetly

  Slowly at first

  Smiling too sweetly

  I opened doors

  They walked right through them

  Called me their friend

  I hardly knew them

  Now I'm where I want to be and who I want to be and

  doing what I

  always said I would and yet I feel I haven't won at all

  Running for my life and never looking back in case

  there's someone

  right behind to shoot me down and say he always knew

  I'd fall.

  When the crazy wheel slows down

  Where will I be? Back where I started.

  Don't get me wrong

  I'm not complaining

  Times have been good

  Fast, entertaining

  But what's the point

  If I'm concealing

  Not only love

  All other feeling.

  Now I'm where I want to be and who I want to be and

  doing what I

  always said I would and yet I feel I haven't won at all

  Running for my life and never looking back in case

  there's someone

  right behind to shoot me down and say he always knew

  I'd fall

  When the crazy wheel slows down

  Where will I be? Back where I started.