[Instrumental Intro — stalking baritone guitar, elastic bass, dry drums] [Verse 1] I paid three hundred dollars For a lesson on a Tuesday Didn't come with any paperwork Didn't even come with lunch Had my whole damn plan laid out Till I thought I knew a shortcut Funny how a little hurry Can turn a little into much Sat there staring at the numbers Like they'd tell me what to do Then I heard my mama laughing From a memory I knew She said, "Baby, when you buy a lesson Don't go buying it again" [Pre-Chorus] Well, I checked my pockets Found a little pride And a piece of information That was worth the price [Chorus] I got the receipt I paid my dues Bought myself a lesson And it came with better shoes Walked out lighter Walked out wise Ain't gonna pay the same damn bill For the rest of my life Oh, let that old mistake Do what it's supposed to do I got the receipt And the lesson's coming through [Instrumental — bass answers crooked baritone riff] [Verse 2] Had a friend who kept a heartbreak Like a painting on the wall Told the story every Friday Like the girl was gonna call He could tell you every detail Every word and every date But he couldn't tell you one thing He was doing differently today I said, "Man, that was expensive" He said, "You don't know the half" I said, "You already paid for it Why you still paying cash?" [Chorus] I got the receipt I paid my dues Bought myself a lesson And it came with better shoes Walked out lighter Walked out wise Ain't gonna pay the same damn bill For the rest of my life Oh, let that old mistake Do what it's supposed to do I got the receipt And the lesson's coming through [Extended Instrumental — baritone guitar bends, rubbery bass, psychedelic rhythmic turns] [Bridge — dry, intimate, almost amused] Some things cost a fortune Some things cost a night Some things take a little skin Before you learn to hold 'em right But there's a funny little difference Between a scar and an open wound One tells you where you've been One keeps you in the room [Instrumental Breakdown — bass pulse, clipped guitar phrases] [Verse 3] Now I keep a little notebook With the things I won't forget Not a list of all my failures Just the things they taught me yet When I feel that old temptation Trying on a brand-new hat I just smile and turn the page Say, "Honey, I've been through that" Don't need another demonstration Don't need the deluxe edition I already bought the knowledge Now I'm using what was given [Final Chorus — full band, rising guitar counterline] I got the receipt I paid my dues Bought myself a lesson And it came with better shoes Walked out lighter Walked out wise Ain't gonna pay the same damn bill For the rest of my life Let the whole world spin Let the old road twist I don't need to lose it twice To know what I missed Oh, let that old mistake Do what it's supposed to do I got the receipt And the lesson's coming through [Extended Instrumental Finale — fierce baritone guitar solo, walking sub-bass, psychedelic country-funk development] [Outro — intimate, dry vocal] Three hundred dollars. ... Could've been three thousand. That's a pretty good deal.
