The Contender - Tommy Fleming

When I was young and I was in my day

I could steal what womans heart there was away

Sing and dance into the dawning

So blazeing until the morning

Long before I was the man you see today

And I was born beneath the star that promised all

I could have lived my life

Between cork cobh and youghal

But the wheel of fortune took me

From the highest point she shook me

By the bottle live by the bottle I shall fall

But there in the mirror on the wall

I see the dream is fading

From the contender to the fall

The ring the rose the matador raving

And when I die I'll die a drunk down on the street

You can count me out to ten in clear defeat

Rap the stary plough around me

Let the pipers air resound me

There I'll rest until the lord of love I meet

But there in the mirror on the wall

I see the dream is fading

From the contender to the brawl

The ring the rose the matador raving

But there in the mirror on the wall

I see the dream is fading

From the contender to the fall

The ring the rose the matador raving