Old folks on the porch used to shake their heads
Say, Boy you better hear what the good Lord said
But I was young, wild as a mountain wind
Figured I’d learn it all in the end
Grandpa said, Son don’t test that wire
That fence’ll bite you like a rattler’s fire
Well I laughed and said, That ain’t no truth
Next thing I knew, I had proof
I never really listened though they tried their best
Hard-headed kid thought he knew the rest
Some lessons burn, some sting like hell
Some stories you just gotta live to tell
From barbed wire pain to the county line
I learned the truth most every time
Yeah life’s a teacher when pride gets in it
And I never really listened, till the very last minute
Daddy said, Boy when you’re deep in the woods
Watch them shiny green leaves real good
Well I laughed when I wandered off the trail
Lord that poison ivy taught me well
Uncle Ray hollered, Don’t pour that gas
On a fire that’s already burning that fast
But I tossed it on like a fool with pride
Nearly lost my eyebrows that night
I never really listened though they tried their best
Hard-headed kid thought he knew the rest
Some lessons burn, some sting like hell
Some stories you just gotta live to tell
From barbed wire pain to the county line
I learned the truth most every time
Yeah life’s a teacher when pride gets in it
And I never really listened, till the very last minute
Mama said, Boy stay away from that girl
Down the road with the wild brown curls
Trouble follows everywhere she goes
Lord knows Mama tried to warn me so
But years rolled on like a mountain stream
Now she’s sittin’ right here next to me
Three wild kids and a porch swing view
Guess that warning didn’t stick too
Yeah some mistakes’ll knock you flat
Some leave scars you can laugh about
But every road that I walked alone
Somehow led me back home
I never really listened though they tried their best
Hard-headed kid thought he knew the rest
But the Lord must smile on stubborn men
Who keep on learnin’ time and again
From electric fences to wedding rings
From foolish boys to family things
Yeah life’s a teacher if you’re livin’ in it
And I never really listened
But I’m sure glad I didn’t
When it came to that girl
Down the road a minute
“Never Really Listened” is track number 8 on the Thumper Barrel album, In A Coal Town.
Track: Never Really Listened
Album: In A Coal Town
ISRC: QZNWY2695566
ASCAP: 935077949