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 would 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 watched the bottle slowly take control of me The turn I made was not the one I planned I watched my social standing slip away from me As I watch 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 my social friends look down their noses 'Cause I kept the wine and threw away the rose