Capo 2nd Fret (To Match Recording)
 
Intro: (D)  (A)  (G)  repeat

Only (D) fools would (Em) race down (G) Gristmill Road
Let A(A)lone in angry (D) weather
That's what I (Em) tell every(G)one I know
(A) Now that I know (D) better

  That's a (G) lesson I wish I (D) would have learned
  Without (G) having to watch my (D) Mustang burn
  Before (G) my best buddy had to (D/F#) wind up hurt
  And (Em) his whole (D/F#) life was (G) changed
  That's a (Em) lesson I wish I (A) didn't learn 
  The (D) 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

    (C) Regrets been know to give a man a (D) beatin'
    But (C) I ain't in the mood for fighting back this (D) evenin'

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