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 me turn But 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 made was not the one I'd planned And 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 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