Hard way

If I was smart I would take your advice
But I am not and so I have to think twice
Never a lesson have I learned
Without first being burned

Oh, the troubles I've known!
I seem to learn everything the hard way
I'm not old enough to be on my own
But I'm much too old to stay

I was about to tell you the truth
All the mistakes of my wasted youth
And why I didn't make it home on time
But you would have thought
I was only lying

I always believed I ran away
But now I know I was told to go
Maybe it's worked out better this way
What could you say I didn't already know?