The Contender
(Jimmy McCarthy - Universal Music)

When I was young and I was in my day,
Sur' I'd steal what woman's heart there was away,
And I'd sing unto the dawning,
Song a blazing to the morning,
Long before I was the man you see today.
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.

Chorus:
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.

And when I die, I'll die a drunk down on the street,
He will count me out to ten in clear defeat,
Wrap the starry plough around me,
Let the piper's air resound me,
There I'll rest until the Lord of love I'll meet.