Endgame
Chess Lyrics

Tal; Lasker; Steinitz; Alekine; Botvinnik; Smyslov;
Naming iconic chess players from different eras, typically champions and grandmasters.

Spassky; Euwe; Fischer; Petrosian; Anderson; Capablanca; Morphy; Karpov;
Naming some more famous chess players.

How straightforward the game When one has trust in one's player (Choir 1921 Jose Capablanca) And how great the relief Working for one who believes in Loyalty, heritage, true to his kind come what may
The game can be easy and the job can be rewarding when there is mutual trust and respect between the employer and the employee.

1927 Alexander Alekine
Mentioning Alexander Alekhine in the song, another famous chess player.

Though it gives me no joy (The Russian 1935 Euwe) Adding to your satisfaction (Choir 1948 Mikhail Botvinnik) You can safely assume That your late unlamented employee Knows if he wins then the only thing won is the chess
The chess pieces are what really matter in a game, as the outcome ultimately affects the pieces and not the players.

1957 Vasily Smyslov
Another chess player mentioned in the song.

It's the weak who accept (Florence 1960 Tal) Tawdry untruths about freedom (Choir 1963 Tigran Petrosian) Prostituting themselves Chasing a spurious starlight Trinkets in airports sufficient to lead them astray
People who compromise their values and ideals for the sake of chasing money, fame, and success are weakened and led astray by their own greed.

1969 Boris Spassky
Yet another chess player mentioned in this song.

Does the player exist (Choir 1972 Bobby Fischer) In any human endeavour (Choir 1975 Anatoly Karpov) Who's been known to resist Sirens of fame and possessions ? They will destroy you, not rivals, not age, not success
It's rare to find a person in any profession who is not tempted by the lure of fame and possessions, but giving in to them can be just as destructive as failing to overcome rivals, aging, or lack of success.

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
People think they know who the artist is and why he has failed, but they don't see him for who he truly is or understand his life and struggles.

Anyone can be A husband, lover Sooner them than me When they discover Their domestic bliss is Shelter for their failing
Being someone's spouse or lover can be a thankless and futile endeavor, that only shelters the failing of others.

As you watch yourself caring About a minor sporting triumph, sharing Your win with esoterics, Paranoids, hysterics, Who don't pay any attention to What goes on around them They leave the one they love the way they found them A normal person must Dismiss you with disgust And weep for those who trusted you
Celebrating and sharing in even minor victories can lead to a self-centered and unhealthy focus on oneself at the expense of others who you leave behind, and who may have trusted and depended on you.

And so you're letting me know - For you're the only one who's never suffered anything at all How you've hated my success - Well I won't crawl - And you can slink back to your pawns and to your tarts And every poisoned word shows that you never understood Liar! Never! Nothing you have said Is revelation Take my blues as read My consolation - Finding out that I'm my only obligation
The singer is rejecting the hate and criticism from others towards his success and is taking responsibility for himself as his only true obligation.

Is there no one in my life Who will not claim The right to steal My work, my name My success, my fame And my freedom
The singer is feeling like his life is being taken and his success and freedom are all he has left for himself.