The Contender | Pat Byrne

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🎵 The Contender | Pat Byrne 🎵

Length: 0:3:59

The Contender - Written by Jimmy MacCarthy
OTRwPB S01E20 Recorded Live June 24, 2021
McGonigel's Mucky Duck  |  Home of the Livest Music in Texas™
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Writer: Jimmy MacCarthy - Irish singer songwriter from Macroom, County Cork, Ireland. The song is about 1930s Irish boxer, Jack Doyle - also known as The Gorgeous Gael. He was born on the 31st August 1913 in Cobh, Ireland and died on 13th December, 1978 in Paddington, London. He was a tall, good-looking, multi-talented individual: a contender for the British Boxing Championship, a Hollywood actor and an accomplished tenor... his generous nature and love for the drink was to be his downfall.

Lyrics:
When I was young and I was in my day
Sure I'd steal what woman's heart there was away
And I'd sing into the dawning
Saw a blaze into the morning
Long before I was the man you see today.
I was born beneath the star that promised all
I could have lived my life without Cassandra's call
But the wheel of fortune took me
From the highest point she shook me
By the bottle live by the bottle I shall fall
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
And when I die I'll die a drunk down on the street
He will count me out to ten in clear defeat
Wrap the Starry Plough around me
Let the piper's air resound me
There I'll rest until the Lord of Love I'll meet
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
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