Mountain duet
Chess Lyrics


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This is the one situation I wanted most to avoid
Nothing I say will convince him this isn't a trick.
A drink on a clear moonlit night, I relax, she smiles
There's something unpleasant going on

So with immaculate timing, I'm left to carry the can
Embarrassed, outnumbered, marooned
Now she can't be working for them, I mean us
She seems so very straightforward but where is he?
He has to come back, he wanted this meeting, well, didn't he?
Maybe he's scared, just as scared as he was in the game

Oh, I just couldn't care less
He can go right ahead, go and wreck his career
I know I've done my best
Well, at least she's a good looking spy

What if my Russian friend thinks that my plans
Are more of an intimate kind?
If I don't say something and soon
He'll go nobody's on nobody's side

Listen, I hate to break up the mood
Get to the point, begin the begin
Haven't you noticed we're a protagonist short
In this idyllic, well produced scene?

All I can say is moments ago
He was right here ready and waiting
Never mind him, I haven't missed him so far

Maybe it won't do any harm
To struggle on without his charm?
Funny how all at once I feel
That he can go jump off the mountain I won't care

This is the one situation I wanted most to avoid
My dear opponent, I really can't imagine why
So I am not dangerous then? What a shame
Oh, you're not dangerous, who could think that of you?

You, you are so strange
Why can't you be what you ought to be?
You should be scheming
Intriguing, too clever by half

I have to hand it to you for you've managed
To make me forget why I ever agreed to this farce




I don't know why I can't think of anything I would rather do
Than be wasting my time on mountains with you

Overall Meaning

The song "Mountain Duet" from the Chess musical is a conversation between two spies who seem to be working for opposite sides. At the beginning of the song, the female spy is worried that her male accomplice won't believe that she's not tricking him. They are on a moonlit night with drinks, and although she seems relaxed and smiles, she hints that something unpleasant is going on. The male spy seems to be nervous about their meeting and the possibility that his plans for his Russian friend might be misunderstood. The female spy is straightforward, but the male one is worried and embarrassed. He is also outnumbered, and the female spy is in control of their situation.


The spies' conversation is ambiguous, and both have their own ideas and motivations. They are both waiting for someone who hasn't shown up yet. The female spy couldn't care less if her male accomplice wrecks his career. She thinks he's scared and might be undermining their mission. The male spy is worried that his Russian friend might think his plans are more intimate, and he doesn't want any misunderstandings. He is frustrated that they are waiting for someone who hasn't shown up yet. As the song progresses, their conversation becomes hostile, and they start criticising each other. They both feel that they are wasting their time and the situation is not what they thought. They end up arguing and insulting each other.


Line by Line Meaning

This is the one situation I wanted most to avoid
This is exactly what I didn't want to happen


Nothing I say will convince him this isn't a trick.
He won't believe I'm not trying to deceive him


A drink on a clear moonlit night, I relax, she smiles
I'm enjoying a drink with her and she seems happy


There's something unpleasant going on
Something doesn't feel right


So with immaculate timing, I'm left to carry the can
I'm left to take the blame at the worst possible moment


Embarrassed, outnumbered, marooned
I feel ashamed, outnumbered, and trapped


Now she can't be working for them, I mean us
I don't think she's a spy, right?


She seems so very straightforward but where is he?
She seems honest, but I'm wondering where he went


He has to come back, he wanted this meeting, well, didn't he?
I expected him to be here, he wanted to meet me, didn't he?


Maybe he's scared, just as scared as he was in the game
He might be afraid, just like he was in the game


Oh, I just couldn't care less
I don't care at all


He can go right ahead, go and wreck his career
He can do what he wants and ruin his own career


I know I've done my best
I did everything I could


Well, at least she's a good looking spy
At least if she is a spy, she's attractive


What if my Russian friend thinks that my plans
What if my Russian friend thinks I have another motive


Are more of an intimate kind?
He might think I have romantic intentions


If I don't say something and soon
If I don't clarify things soon


He'll go nobody's on nobody's side
He'll leave and we won't be able to trust anyone


Listen, I hate to break up the mood
I don't want to ruin the moment, but...


Get to the point, begin the begin
Let's focus on the matter at hand


Haven't you noticed we're a protagonist short
Someone important is missing from our group


In this idyllic, well produced scene?
Despite the peaceful setting, something's wrong


All I can say is moments ago
Just a little while ago


He was right here ready and waiting
He was here, eager to meet


Never mind him, I haven't missed him so far
I don't care about him, I haven't needed him yet


Maybe it won't do any harm
It might be okay


To struggle on without his charm?
Can we carry on without him?


Funny how all at once I feel
It's strange how I suddenly sense that


That he can go jump off the mountain I won't care
I don't care if he leaves or what happens to him


My dear opponent, I really can't imagine why
I don't understand why you're acting this way


Nothing I say will convince him this isn't a trick.
He doesn't believe I'm not trying to deceive him


So I am not dangerous then? What a shame
I'm not seen as a threat? That's disappointing


Oh, you're not dangerous, who could think that of you?
Of course you're not dangerous, who would ever think that?


You, you are so strange
You are really weird


Why can't you be what you ought to be?
Why can't you just be normal?


You should be scheming
You should be plotting


Intriguing, too clever by half
You should be clever and devious


I have to hand it to you for you've managed
I have to admit, you've done well


To make me forget why I ever agreed to this farce
You've distracted me from the fact this whole thing is a joke


I don't know why I can't think of anything I would rather do
I don't know why I can't think of anything else I'd rather be doing


Than be wasting my time on mountains with you
Than spending time on this pointless mission with you




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICE, TIM / ANDERSSON, BENNY GORAN BROR / ULVAEUS, BJOERN K.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Maria Furuseth

Mountain Duet

This is the one situation
I wanted most to avoid
Nothing I say will convince him
This isn't a trick.
A drink on clear moonlit night--
I relax, she smiles,
There's something peculiar
Going on.
So through no fault of my own
I'm stuck here to carry the can.
Embarrassed, uncertain, marooned.
Now she can't be working for them--
I mean us--
She seems to know what she's doing,
But where is he?
He has to turn up,
He wanted this meeting,
Didn't he?
Maybe he's scared,
But he didn't seem scared
In the game.
Oh, I just couldn't care less.
He can go right ahead,
Go and wreck his career,
I know I've done my best.
Well, at least
She's a good looking spy.
What if my Russian friend
Thinks that my plans
Are more of an intimate kind?
If I don't say something
And soon
He'll go.
Maybe I'm on nobody's side!
Listen, I hate to break up the mood.
Get to the point,
Begin the beguine.
Haven't you noticed
We are a protagonist short,
In this idyllic,
Well-produced scene?
He couldn't wait
To join you up here.
Maybe he walked--
Cable cars scare him.
Never mind him,
I haven't missed him so far.
Maybe it won't do any harm
To struggle on without his charm.
Funny how all at one I feel
That he can go jump off the mountain--
I won't care!
This is the one situation
I wanted most to avoid.
My dear opponent--
I really can't imagine why.
So I am not dangerous then?
What a shame.
No, you're not dangerous. Florence:
Who could think that of you? You--
You are so strange.
Why can't you be
What you want to be?
You should be scheming,
Intriguing,
Too clever by half!
I have to hand it to you
For you've managed
To make me forget
Why I ever agreed on this farce. Florence:
I don't know why Know why
I can't think of anything
I would rather do
Than be wasting my time
On mountains with you.
Who'd ever think it?
Such a very pretty setting.
Tell me what's the betting,
Very pretty plotting, too.
No matter--
I've done all your work for you.
Florence: Freddie.
Who'd ever guess it?
Daughter in collaboration
With the very nation
Gave her father third degree.
Where's Daddy, dead,
Or in the KGB?
While my second has been curling up with my
opponent, I have agreed to new terms with
Global Television, which in short means more money--
for you as well, but that can't be helped. Therefore,
this meeting is unnecessary. The match can continue
and we don't have to be friends.



All comments from YouTube:

JoshJNYC

4:06 to the end is, for me anyway, the most spine-chillingly, heartbreakingly beautiful 36 seconds in all of musical theater history. 

ralphus44

Without even skipping to it, I knew exactly the portion of the song you were referring to. And, I agree.

Cathy 81topcat@sky.com

Just saw NYMTuk perform this in Leicester Curve.... they nailed it and I haven't stopped listening to this soundtrack since I've returned home. What a soundtrack... this duet is heartbreakingly stupendous!!!

Romero Gardens

maybe the most underrated musical in modern day era

mzmiller52

Impossible to stage though.

Maria Gal

My God, how I love both singers!

mytmyt

Heard this on the XM Broadway channel this evening. Made my day! Been a fan for over 30 years.

Affordable Ballroom

Absolutely love this!

Saidue Karmo

that has always been my favorite part of this duet..the Unison(oh my god)its so musical and emotional..not contrive..like the concert versions..sometimes simple is best

T Thomas

Sang in a semi -pro production of this in the UK in the mid 1990's though thankfully I had to do it from the wings as stage crew in the end due to my exams still one of my favourite musicals.

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