The lyrics describe the sacrifices the speaker had to make for loving someone, including buying a house, a diamond ring, giving up everything, stopping their reckless behaviors, and ultimately feeling like their life was wrecked by the relationship.

Meaning of "What A Price" by George Thorogood & The Destroyers

These lyrics capture the pain and regret of a doomed love affair. The repetition of "Oh, what a price I had to pay for loving you" highlights the speaker's resentment towards the sacrifices they made for the relationship. From material possessions like a house and diamond ring to changing their lifestyle by giving up gambling and late nights out, the speaker feels like they lost everything for someone who only ended up wrecking their life. The final lines, "You've heard my story, I've sung my song, So, goodbye baby, I'm gone," signify a sense of finality and closure as the speaker decides to walk away from the toxic relationship. Overall, the lyrics reflect the bitterness and heartache that can come from unreciprocated love and the realization that sometimes we pay a high price for loving someone who does not value us in return.