Once I lived a life of wine and roses 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 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 [ steel ] I stood by and watched the bottle take control of me The turn I made was not the one I've planned I watched my social standings slip away from me While I watched the bottle slowly take command Now I'm paying for the days of wine and roses... Cause I kept the wine and threw away the rose