[Verse 1]
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 could help me make the turn

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 2]
I stood by and watched the bottle take control of me
The turn I took was not the one I planned
And I watched my social standing slip away from me
As I watched the bottle slowly take command

[Chorus]
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
'cause I kept the wine and threw away the rose