Benny Andersson, Tim Rice, and Bjorn Ulvaeus THE AMERICAN: When I was
nine I learned survival Taught myself not to care I was my single good
companion Taking my comfort there Up in my room I planned my
conquests On my own -- never asked for a helping hand No one would
understand I never asked the pair who fought below Just in case
they said no Pity the child who has ambition Knows what he wants to
do Knows that he'll never fit the system Others expect him to Pity
the child who knew his parents Saw their faults Saw their love die
before his eyes Pity the child that wise He never asked "Did I cause
your distress?" Just in case they said yes When I was twelve my
father moved out Left with a whimper -- not with a shout I didn't
miss him -- he made it perfectly clear I was a fool and probably
queer Fool that I was I thought this would bring Those he had left
closer together She made her move the moment he crawled away I was
the last the woman told She never let her bed get cold Someone moved in
-- I shut my door Someone to treat her just the same way as before I
took the road of least resistance I had my game to play I had the skill,
and more -- the hunger Easy to get away Pity the child with no such
weapons No defense, no escape from the ties that bind Always a step
behind I never called to tell her all I'd done I was only her son!
Pity the child but not forever Not if he stays that way He can get all
he ever wanted If he's prepared to pay Pity instead the careless
mother What she missed What she lost when she let me go And I
wonder does she know I wouldn't call -- a crazy thing to do Just in
case she said who?