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!