The Contender

 C                                 F
When I was  young, and I was in my day
  Dm                                              G
I could have stole what woman's heart there was away
  C
I'd sing and dance into the morning
  Dm
I'd blaze a way until the dawnin'
  F                    G             C
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
And from the highest point it shook me
By the bottle live by the bottle I shall fall

Chorus:
                   Dm    G       C
But there in the mirror on the wall
              Dm     G
I see the dream is fading
          Dm        G       C
From the contender to the brawl
      Bb                              F G
The ring, the rose, the matador is  raving

And when I die I'll die a drunk down in the street
You can count me out to ten in clear defeat
Rap the starry 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

  C
Rap the starry plough around me
  Dm
Let the pipers air resound me
            F               G              C
There I'll rest until the lord of love I meet