The Kings Of Backgammon

The kings of backgammon, descendants of Bulgarian kings and Austro-Hungarian princes Russian counts and countesses, Czech barons Your ancestors have seen better days. They accepted their fate as the natural state of affairs And when it turned out to be just a fickle fortune They had the nurture and tact not to show their shock, Though usually such a ruthless discovery crushes many. Now, as you spend your days playing backgammon in smoky cafes You rarely remember the fragments of days gone by. You've learnt to rejoice in trifling victories, and not to be disheartened by losses. The descendants of exiled kings and ruined nobles They organise championships of sad joy The winner owes a round of beer for everyone. The new Russian opposition makes the right acquaintances Just like the old one did a hundred years ago And in their later years, they all convert to Catholicism Since Orthodox churches don't have pews At least with Catholics you can doze off unnoticed With a sniff of incense through the candle light.