The Contender chords by Christy Moore

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 away until the dawnin',
    F       G       C
Long before I was the man you see today.


     C                  F
And I was born beneath the star that promised all
       Dm                  G
I could have lived my life between Cork, Cobh and Youghal.
     C
But the wheel of fortune took me,
       Dm
And from the highest point it shook me,
    F         G       C
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.


      C                F
And when I die I'll die a drunk down in the street,
     Dm               G
You can count me out to ten in clear defeat.
     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.


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.

     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.