Wouldn't be no stories 'bout the one that got away
Wouldn't be no wild-hair dream a little too crazy to chase
Wouldn't be no first truck that ever got sold
If every young man knew what every old man knows

Wouldn't be no come and get me calls at 2 a. m
Wouldn't be no best friend fights over some ex-girlfriend
Wouldn't be nobody ever bumming that first smoke
If every young man knew what every old man knows

Time gets wasted, mistakes get made
Lessons get learned the hard way
The world wouldn't be perfect, but it'd sure be close
If every young man knew what every old man knows

Wouldn't be no driving down a back road way too fast
Wouldn't be no bad excuse to miss fishing with your dad
Wouldn't be no drunk tattoo from a trip to Mexico
If every young man knew what every old man knows

Time gets wasted, mistakes get made
Lessons get learned the hard way
The world wouldn't be perfect, but it'd sure be close
If every young man knew what every old man knows

I wouldn't be pouring too much whiskey in a cup
Standing out on this front porch where
you slammed that screen door shut
Watching your taillights getting further down that road
If every young man knew what every old man knows