Verse 1 I played it loose and I played it fast, Built my house on a die I cast, Borrowed tomorrows to fund today, Told myself I'd find another way. Laughed at the clock and I laughed at the bill, Drank from the well at the top of the hill, Swore to the sky I was untouchable, free, But the devil keeps records more careful than me. Chorus Oh it's time to pay the piper, The tune doesn't play for free, Every dance has got a dollar sign, And the bill is coming for me. You can dodge it in the daylight, You can hide it in the night, But the piper's on the doorstep now, And he's coming to collect what's right. Verse 2 I left a few hearts out in the cold, Told a few lies that I let unfold, Cut a few corners and skipped a few dues, Figured the universe wouldn't keep score of my moves. But karma's a ledger and karma don't lie, What you bury in the ground don't stay buried inside, It grows up through the cracks in the life that you made, And it blooms in the midnight like a hand on your grave. Chorus Oh, it's time to pay the piper, The tune doesn't play for free, Every dance has got a dollar sign, And the bill is coming for me. You can dodge it in the daylight, You can hide it in the night, But the piper's on the doorstep now, And he's coming to collect what's right. Bridge And I know, Lord I know, I can't outrun what I sow, Every seed finds its season to grow, Reaping the wind that I blew long ago. But maybe paying the price, Is the first honest thing in this life, Maybe facing the music is mercy in disguise. Verse 3 So, I'm standing at the door with my hat in my hand, Got the weight of my choices right where I stand, Ain't looking for pardon, ain't begging for grace, Just a man settling debts with a look on his face. The piper looks older than I thought he'd be, Got eyes like a mirror just reflecting back me, And he says "Son, I don't come here to punish or scold, I just come to make whole what was broken and old." Chorus Oh it's time to pay the piper, The tune doesn't play for free, Every dance has got a dollar sign, And the bill is coming for me. You can dodge it in the daylight, You can hide it in the night, But the piper's on the doorstep now, And he's coming to collect what's right. Outro Pay the piper... pay the piper... The tune doesn't play for free. But maybe... just maybe... paying sets, you free.