Once I lived the life of wine and roses
But you drank a lot back then for one concern
Success, for you, lay just around the corner
You thought your social friends would help you make the turn

But now I'm paying for the days of wine and roses
A victim of the kind of life you chose
Now all your social friends look down their noses
'Cause you kept the wine but threw away the rose

I stood by and watched the bottle take control of you
The turn you made was not the one we planned
And I watched your social standing stripped away from you
While I watched the bottle slowly take command

And now I'm paying for the days of wine and roses
A victim of the kind of life you chose
And now all your social friends look down their noses
'Cause you kept the wine but threw away the rose
'Cause you kept the wine but threw away the rose