A fantastic song about the great Jack Doyle. Brings a tear to my eye. Dedicated to a close friend and a fellow Republican, Anthony Blair. Anthony first introduced me to this song on the bus back from a celtic match. A memorable singsong. Enjoy a chairde! Tunning: Standard No Capo (It's nicer picked)

W^Chen I was young, and I was in my ^Fday I ^Dmcould have stole what woman's heart there was aw^Gay I'^Cd sing and dance into the morning I'^Dmd blaze a way until the dawnin' Lo^Fng before I was the m^Gan you see tod^Cay

And I was born beneath the star that promised all I could have lived my life between Cork Cobh and Youghal But the wheel of fortune took me And from the highest point it shook me By the bottle live by the bottle I shall fall Chorus:

But there in the mi^Dmrror o^Gn the wa^Cll I see the drea^Dmm is fa^Gding From the c^Dmontender t^Go the br^Cawl The ri^Bbng, the rose, the matador is ra^Fvi^Gng

And when I die I'll die a drunk down in the street You can count me out to ten in clear defeat Rap the starry plough around me Let the pipers air resound me There I'll rest until the lord of love I meet But there in the mirror on the wall I see the dream is fading From the contender to the brawl The ring, the rose, the matador, raving

Ra^Cp the starry plough around me Le^Dmt the pipers air resound me There I'll r^Fest until the lo^Grd of love I me^Cet

Christy Moore - The contender