I couldn't wait to ride out of that one-horse town Didn't see no use in stickin' around I was green and bustin' at the seams to leave I was sittin' on G, waitin' on O the day I hit eighteen I hit the road, traded that county, maintained for a four-lane city street But sometimes things ain't what you think they're gonna be What you want ain't always what you need Don't know what you got till it's gone and you're out on your own All you want is what you can't get back Once you let it go, then you know what you have Don't hold a candle to what you had Sometimes what you think you'll find It ain't quite what real life has in store So be careful what you wish for She was holdin' on just a little too tight Talked a little too much about the rest of our lives I broke her heart, thinkin' freedom would set me free But sometimes things ain't what you think they're gonna be Don't know what you got till it's gone and you're out on your own All you want is what you can't get back Once you let it go, then you know what you have Don't hold a candle to what you had Sometimes what you think you'll find It ain't quite what real life has in store So be careful what you wish for Cause these city lights can't shine quite like the stars I wish I could wish her back into my arms Don't know what you got till it's gone and you're out on your own All you want is what you can't get back Once you let it go, then you know what you have Don't hold a candle to what you had Sometimes what you think you'll find It ain't quite what real life has in store And you can't get her back no more So be careful what you wish for Be careful what you wish for