The Hard Way

Only fools would race down Grist Mill Road
Let alone in angry weather
That’s what I tell everyone I know
Now that I know better
That’s a lesson I wish I would learned
Without having' to watch my Mustang burn
Before my best buddy had to wind up hurt
An' his whole life changed
That’s a lesson I wish I didn’t learn the hard way
Only a fool would keep a diamond ring
In a box on the top of his closet
He came so close; he almost asked
It was right there in his pocket
That’s a lesson I wish I would learned
Before standing in the back row of that church
Watching her daddy giving her
To the man who took my place
That’s a lesson I wish I didn’t learn the hard way
Regret’s been known to give a man a beating'
But I ain’t in the mood for fighting' back this evening'
Only fools don’t take the time of day
They stay too busy running'
An' to stop just once to tell their Dad
Just how much they love him
That’s a lesson I wish I would learned
Before that phone call came an' it was her
No, Mamma never had to say a word
I knew it was too late
That’s a lesson I wish I didn’t learn the hard way
The hard way
The hard way
The hard way