Way back then I was a champion   A fighter in the ring   And all the crowds would cheer   My praises they would sing   Now I am a forgotten man   A hobo out alone   No champ to push me on   Nothing, no-one to call my own      I was a dark eyed boy   Stars in his eyes   Promises made flesh and blood   Grip of arm   And granite charm   Oh, times were golden   Times were good   Sinew young   And skin of ore   Molten and streaming with dreams   Now I nod away the days   Barely remembering names it seems      Oh, I would smile   To hear the bell   Ringing out my glory   Like a bull I paced the ring   My bloody territory      I held on high   The fist in glove   The symbol of my power   Now I wait   A punch drunk fool   To fade away forever      Broken noses   Broken jaws   And many broken hearts   An idol   And a hero   Till my courage fell apart   And now my brain a-ringing   With the final bell and count   They hold my hand up limply   Told the world   That I was out!   I didn't mind the scars   The blood   The crushing of the hand   But to lose a nation's   Love, respect   Is something I'll never understand      I'm gonna bury my head   And cry