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 blaze a trail 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