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 

[Verse]
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 

[Verse]
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 

[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 

[Outro]
  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