Only fools would race down Gristmill 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 have learned
Without having to watch my Mustang burn
Before my best buddy had to wind up hurt
And his whole life was 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 have learned
Before standing in the back row of that church
Watching her daddy givin' her
To the man who took my place
That's a lesson I wish I didn't learn
The hard way

Regrets been known to give a man a beatin'
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
To stop just once and tell their dad
Just how much they love him

That's a lesson I wish I would have learned
Before the phone call came and it was her
No, Mama 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