When you're down to the last skin
And the limelight splutters to darkness in the death of a Zippo
At the backstage door the last fan has long disappeared
With a plastic bag stuffed full of memories
If only you'd signed them, if only to testify, if only to recognise that he existed
That for a moment he stood there
Side by side in the gutter on the hard cold shoulder of destiny

You say never again this is the end and it's all gonna change you're determined this time
Year after year you pretend it's for real and it's all gonna change you're determined this time
Well happy birthday to me!

When you're the worm in the bottle
You're the last one to leave and there's nowhere to go to
And the minicab driver politely suggests you go home
If you could only remember, just where that's at
Just where you been, just where it went wrong
You'll eventually find it

You say never again this is the end and it's all gonna change you're determined this time
Year after year you pretend it's for real and it's all gonna change you're determined this time
Well happy birthday to me!

When you're down to the end line and they're writing you up and writing you off and it feels just like an obituary
You feel it's all over. You want to drive on down to the beach
And just keep on swimming. But you're still treading water
You say never again this is the end and it's all gonna change you're determined this time
Year after year you pretend it's for real and it's all gonna change you're determined this time
Well happy birthday to me!

Happy Birthday!