Lessons Learned
Tracy Lawrence Lyrics


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I was ten years old the day I got caught
With some dime store candy that I never bought
I hung my head and I faced the wall
As Daddy showed me wrong from right
He said this hurts me more than it does you
There's just some things son, that you just don't do
Is anything I'm sayin' getting through
Daddy I can see the light
Oh Lessons learned, man they sure run deep
They don't go away and they don't come cheap
Oh there's no way around it
Cause this world turns on lessons learned
Granddaddy was a man I loved
He bought me my first ball and glove
Even taught me how to drive his old truck
Circling that ol' town square
He spoke of life with a slow southern drawl
I never heard him cause I knew it all
But I sure listened when I got the call
That he was no longer there
Oh Lessons learned, man they sure run deep
They don't go away and they don't come cheap
Oh there's no way around it
Cause this world turns
On lessons learned





(Solo|repeat chorus)

Overall Meaning

Tracy Lawrence's song Lessons Learned is a powerful and emotional ballad about the lessons that we learn throughout our lives. The song is a reflection on childhood experiences with family members and how they shaped the singer's understanding of the world. The opening lines of the song introduce the listener to the story of the day the singer got caught stealing candy as a young child. The way the lyrics describe the experience shows the shame and embarrassment felt by the singer as they are caught and scolded by their father. The line "there's just some things son, that you just don't do" highlights the important life lesson that the singer was taught, that some actions are morally wrong and will have negative consequences.


The second verse of the song shifts the focus to the singer's grandfather, who taught them about life and how to drive. The lyrics reminisce about the grandfather's slow southern drawl and the words of wisdom he imparted. The line "I never heard him cause I knew it all" is a poignant observation of how we often take the wisdom of our elders for granted when we are young. However, the singer "sure listened when [they] got the call that he was no longer there," highlighting the importance of cherishing the words of wisdom from loved ones before they are gone.


Overall, Lessons Learned is a touching and sentimental song that conveys the message that we should all strive to learn from the experiences of those around us, especially our family members. The lyrics emphasize the importance of learning life lessons from those we respect and love, and the consequences of ignoring those lessons can have a lasting impact on our lives.


Line by Line Meaning

I was ten years old the day I got caught
At ten years old, I was caught red-handed with stolen candy.


With some dime store candy that I never bought
I stole an inexpensive candy that I didn't even have to pay for.


I hung my head and I faced the wall
My act of stealing brought shame and guilt, as I faced punishment.


As Daddy showed me wrong from right
My father corrected my behavior, teaching me the difference between right and wrong.


He said this hurts me more than it does you
Although it might seem like my punishment is severe, my father is in more pain for having to deliver it.


There's just some things son, that you just don't do
There are certain actions that are never acceptable.


Is anything I'm sayin' getting through
My father wonders if I'm truly understanding the lesson he's trying to convey.


Daddy I can see the light
I finally grasp the lesson, acknowledging my father's wisdom.


Oh Lessons learned, man they sure run deep
Lessons truly leave a lasting impact.


They don't go away and they don't come cheap
Lessons are costly, but can't be forgotten.


Oh there's no way around it
There's no escaping the need for learning from our mistakes.


Cause this world turns on lessons learned
The world is constantly teaching us lessons, and it's up to us whether or not we learn from them.


Granddaddy was a man I loved
My grandfather was someone I deeply cared about.


He bought me my first ball and glove
He gave me my first sports equipment, kick-starting my love for sports.


Even taught me how to drive his old truck
He also took the time to share his knowledge and teach me how to drive.


Circling that ol' town square
We used to drive around the town together.


He spoke of life with a slow southern drawl
My grandfather spoke about life in his own unique way.


I never heard him cause I knew it all
I was too confident and thought I already knew everything he was going to say.


But I sure listened when I got the call
After he passed away, I truly listened to and understood his words.


That he was no longer there
When my grandfather died, I realized the value of his lessons and presence.


(Solo|repeat chorus)
Instrumental break and repetition of the chorus.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Paul Nelson, Larry Boone, Tracy Lawrence

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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