Once, I lived a life of wine and roses And I drank a lot back then for one concern Success for me lay just around the corner I thought my social friends could help me make the turn And now, I'm paying for the days of wine and roses A victim of the drunken life I chose Now, all my social friends look down their noses 'Cause I kept the wine and threw away the rose I stood by and watched the bottle take control of me The turn I took was not the one I planned And I watched my social standing slip away from me As I watched the bottle slowly take command And now, I'm paying for the days of wine and roses A victim of the drunken life I chose Now, all my social friends look down their noses 'Cause I kept the wine and threw away the rose 'Cause I kept the wine and threw away the rose