Nothing is so good it lasts eternally
Perfect situations must go wrong
But this has never yet prevented me
Wanting far too much for far too long

Looking back, I could have played it differently
Won a few more moments, who can tell?
But it took time to understand the man
Now, at least, I know I know him well

Wasn’t it good?
(Oh so good)
Wasn’t he fine?
(Oh so fine)
Isn’t it madness?
He can’t be mine
But in the end he needs a little bit more than me
More security
(He needs his fantasies and freedom)
I know him so well

No one in your life is with you constantly
No one is completely on your side
And though I move my world to be with him
Still the gap between us is too wide

Looking back I could have played it differently
Learned about the man before I fell
But I was ever so much younger then
Now, at least, I know I know him well

(overlapping above)
Looking back, I could have played it some other way
I was just a little careless, maybe
I was so much younger then
I know I know him well

Wasn’t it good?
(Oh so good)
Wasn’t he fine?
(Oh so fine)
Isn’t it madness?
He can’t be mine
Didn’t I know how it would go?
If I knew from the start,
Why am I falling apart?

Wasn’t it good?
Wasn’t he fine?
Isn’t it madness?
He won’t be mine
But in the end he needs a little bit more than me
More security
(He needs his fantasy and freedom)
I know him so well
It took time to understand him
I know him so well

From the musical “Chess”; original recording by Elaine Paige & Barbara Dickson