Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, and Bjorn Ulvaeus

CITIZENS OF MERANO:

 O light the heart

 That lingers in Merano

 Merano! The spa no

 Connoisseur of spas would miss

 So healthy

 Highly recommended

 Is this sweet metropolis

 Mental and physical bliss!

 The gods have smiled

 And bless-ed is Merano

 Merano! There are no

 Fitter burghers to be found

 Such vigour!

 Take the time to taste us

 We'll give you a welcome that's typically Tirol

 For then we are sure of our ground

 Fight now we're Italian -- we used to be German

 The border keeps shifting around

 MAYOR:

 Speaking as one of the patriarchs

 I don't mind taking your lira or marks

 CITIZENS:

 Oh I get high when I saunter by the mountains of

 Merano

 Rosy-cheeked Merano

 Flourishing to a fault

 The sparkling streams, the bracing air

 The therapeutic salt

 I'd have to be carried away to call a halt!

 Oh I feel great in this bouncing state o hail to the

 Merano

 Hearty hale Merano

 Any objections? Nein!

 Where breathing in will turn you on

 Where water tastes like wine

 Get out your get up and go and get in line

 It's living your life in a show by Rodgers and

 Hammerstein!

 O sad the soul

 Who passes by Merano

 Merano! so far no

 Soul has ever passed us by

 They love us

 Why not stay forever?

 Oh so many reasons why

 All those in favour say "Aye"

 Aye!

 So sing a song

 Let's hear it for Merano

 Merano! Soprano

 Alto, tenor, bass agree

 We're wholesome

 What a happy haven

 This is a place where your arteries soften

 Cholesterol hasn't a chance

 From mountain to valley the natural goodness

 Is fighting pollution's advance

 MAYOR:

 So come to us and feel the force

 All major credit cards taken of course

 CITIZENS:

 Oh I get high when I saunter by the mountains of

 Merano

 Rosy-cheeked Merano

 Flourishing to a fault

 The sparkling streams, the bracing air

 The therapeutic salt

 I'd have to be carried away to call a halt

 Once in a while all the gods will smile on little old

 Merano

 Humble shy Merano

 Suddenly hits the press

 And I report with all the pride

 And joy that I possess

 Half of the world and his wife has our address

 Our little town will be rife with games of chess!

 CITIZENS: (after a good whistle)

 Get up your get up and go and get in line

 It's living your life in a show...

 THE AMERICAN:

 What a scene! What a joy!

 What a lovely sight

 When my game is the big sensation!

 Has the mob's sporting taste

 Altered overnight?

 Have they found new sophistication?

 Not yet! They just want to see

 If the nice guy beats the bum

 If it's East-West

 And the money's sky-high

 They all come

 You can raise all you want

 If you raise the roof

 Scream and shout and the gate increases

 Break the rules -- break the bank

 I'm the living proof

 They don't care how I move my pieces

 I know I'm the best there is

 But all they want is a show

 Well that's all right -- I'll be glad to oblige

 All right! I'll be glad to oblige

 All right! I'll be glad to oblige

 S.R.O. S.R.O.

 MAYOR & CITIZENS:

 Oh I get high when I saunter by the mountains of

 Merano

 Rosy-cheeked Merano

 Flourishing to a fault

 The sparkling streams, the bracing air

 The therapeutic salt

 I'd have to be carried away to call a halt

 Oh I feel great in this bouncing state o hail to the

 Merano

 Hearty hale Merano

 Any objections? Nein!

 Where breathing in will turn you on

 Where water tastes like wine

 Get out your get up and go and get in line

 It's living your life in a show by Rodgers and

 Hammerstein!

 Now for the sell

 We put the ice into paradise, we are the salt of

 the earth

 Sound as a bell

 Check out the waters

 And check out the hygiene

 At which we excel

 Check into an hotel

 And schnell

 Body and soul

 Get well!