^AThey called him Alexander ^AWith the best band in the land ^AHe'd topped the bill in Paris ^ABut in Venice it was banned ^AA pile of dusty gold discs ^AWere among his claims to fame ^AThere was no-one over sixty ^AWho did not know his name

^CAlexander ^B7you were great The ^Emman the critics ^Cloved to hate You ^Dcould have been as big as the ^B7Beatles or the ^EmStones ^CAlexander ^B7you became The ^Emlonely housewife's ^Cfavourite name And you ^Dcould have been the greatest of them ^Emall

^AThe gig was held in honour ^AOf his golden jubilee ^AHe did not need the money ^ASo he said he'd play for free ^AHe got the band together ^AWho'd been with him through the years ^AThey rehearsed the Alexander songs ^AAnd shed nostalgic tears

^CAlexander ^B7you were great The ^Emman the critics ^Cloved to hate You ^Dcould have been as big as the ^B7Beatles or the ^EmStones ^CAlexander ^B7you became The ^Emlonely housewife's ^Cfavourite name And you ^Dcould have been the greatest of them ^Emall

^AThe crowd rose to their feet ^AWhen Alexander hit the stage ^AHis face had been rebuilt ^ASo that you could not tell his age ^AHe played all of the old songs ^AAnd the crowd sang every word ^AHe danced like Margot Fonteyn ^AAnd whistled like a bird

^CAlexander ^B7you were great The ^Emman the critics ^Cloved to hate You ^Dcould have been as big as the ^B7Beatles or the ^EmStones ^CAlexander ^B7you became The ^Emlonely housewife's ^Cfavourite name And you ^Dcould have been the greatest of them ^Emall

^AHe came on for the encore ^ABut collapsed against the stand ^AThe crowd was hushed, the doctor came ^AThere was panic in the band ^AHe diagnosed a broken heart ^AThe critics had been fed ^ATheir reviews became ^AObituary notices instead

^CAlexander ^B7you were great The ^Emman the critics ^Cloved to hate You ^Dcould have been as big as the ^B7Beatles or the ^EmStones ^CAlexander ^B7you became The ^Emlonely housewife's ^Cfavourite name And you ^Dcould have been the greatest of them ^Emall

Strawbs - Alexander the great