The Contender

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Go ahead and laugh, go ahead and stare You don't believe me, but I don't care You punks have nothin', you don't know a thing You never saw me in '59 I was young, I was in my prime Quick and strong, I felt like a king Like I ruled the world when I stepped in the ring "Get in there, kid, and do your stuff Show him your combination He can't touch you 'cause you're lightning fast He'll go a round or two, but he'll never last And if you win this one You could be on your way, on your way [Chorus] "And you could be a contender Yeah, you could be a big name Well, you could be a contender Number one in the game" [Verse 2] You'd look at me different if you'd seen me then You'd have been proud to call me friend I trained hard, I was in peak condition I turned pro when the time was right Undefeated in my first ten fights Seven knockouts, three unanimous decisions I was gonna tear up the whole division "This is it, kid, it's all set up You're going to New York City This is it, this could be your big break He's a good fighter, kid, but I know you can take him If you win this one You could be on your way, on your way [Chorus] "And you could be a contender Yeah, you could be a big name Yeah, you could be a contender Number one in the game" [Verse 3] New York City, Madison Square Garden I was going against a fighter name of Wilbur Hardin He fought the best, but I heard he was gettin' old He was lookin' cool, black and mean I was feelin' righteous, I was feelin' clean Lookin' good, that's what I was told I wasn't sweatin', man, I was feelin' cold "Get in there, kid, this is your fight You know he can't stay with you Get in there, kid," then I heard the bell I heard the crowd start screamin' String him along, now play it cool He ain't as young as you He's too slow, you're too fast Stay away from his right, he's never gonna last "You look great, kid," they said after the third "You got him worried, you got him scared" What did they know? They weren't in the ring To feel the blows, to feel the sting "What's the matter, kid? You're lettin' us down Put him away in the very next round" I hit him hard, my very best shot You know he went down, but then he got up He hit me with a left, and he hit me with a right My legs buckled, they turned out the lights They turned out the lights They turned out the lights They turned out the lights [Verse 1] Go ahead and laugh, go ahead and stare You don't believe me, but I don't care You punks are nothin', you don't know a thing [Chorus] I could have been a contender I could have been a big name I could have been a contender Number one in the game I could have been a contender Now can you say the same?