Your Mileage May Vary

Words and music  Creative Commons License 1998 by Jim Bearden

The title for this one, of course, came from a phrase originally used in car ads in the 1970s, and now very common on the Internet. Depending on the context, it can mean “Your experience, or opinion, of this may be different from mine,” or, “Don’t believe everything you hear,” or (as it mostly does here), “Don’t expect that something that worked for you before, or for somebody else, is always going to work for you.” Nothing profound here, but it’s fun to sing.

Verse 1:
Years ago, I was out one night, at a local bar,
When in walked the prettiest girl I’d ever seen, by far.
So I sat right down beside her, and I tried out my best line;
And I really wasn’t ready for what she said to me that time:

Chorus 1:
She said, “Your mileage may vary, as you travel life’s highway.
What might have worked for you yesterday won’t get you far today.
Some things you’ve got to learn the hard way — else what’s life worth living for?”
She just said, “Your mileage may vary,” and she walked right out the door.

Verse 2:
Well, I couldn’t let her go like that, I’d regret it all my life;
So I finally convinced her to become my wife.
As we walked up to our first house, she said, “How will we know the way?”
And for once, I knew just exactly what to say:

Chorus 2:
I said, “Your mileage may vary, as you travel life’s highway.
What might have worked for you yesterday won’t get you far today.
Some things you’ve got to learn the hard way — else what’s life worth living for?”
I just said, “Your mileage may vary,” and I carried her through the door.

Bridge:
Now, years later, we’ve got a son, going out on his first date;
So I thought I’d pass her lesson on, before it was too late:

Chorus 3:
I said, “Son, your mileage may vary, as you travel life’s highway.
What might have worked for you yesterday won’t get you far today.
Some things you’ve got to learn the hard way — else what’s life worth living for?”
I just said, “Your mileage may vary,” and I sent him out the door.

End:
Just remember: Your mileage may vary.

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