Because Of You

(Written by Kelly Clarkson/David Hodges/Ben Moody)
Published by Smelly Songs (ASCAP)/12:06 Publishing (BMI)/SmellsLikeMetal Publishing/Dwight Frye Music, Inc. (BM) all rights administered by Dwight Frye Music, Inc. (BMI)

I will not make
The same mistakes that you did
I will not let myself
Cause my heart so much misery
I will not break
The way you did, you fell so hard
I’ve learned the hard way
To never let it get that far

Because of you
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you
I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt
Because of you
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Because of you I am afraid

I lose my way
And it’s not too long before you point it out
I cannot cry
Because I know that’s weakness in your eyes
I’m forced to fake
A smile, a laugh, every day of my life
My heart can’t possibly break
When it wasn’t even whole to start with

I watched you die
I heard you cry every night in your sleep
I was so young
You should have known better than to lean on me
You never thought of anyone else
You just saw your pain
And now I cry in the middle of the night
For the same damn thing

Because of you
Because of you
Because of you I am afraid

Because of you I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Because of you I learned to play on the safe side so I don’t get hurt

Because of you I try my hardest just to forget everything
Because of you
I don’t know how to let anyone else in
Because of you
I’m ashamed of my life because it’s empty
Because of you I am afraid

Because of you


Produced by David Hodges and Ben Moody
Mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios, Virginia Beach, VA
Assisted by Tim Roberts
Recorded by Dan Certa at NRG Recording, North Hollywood, CA
Assistant Engineer: Sergio Chavez
Additional Pro-Tools Engineer: John Hanes
All vocals by Kelly Clarkson
Guitar: Ben Moody
Piano: David Hodges
Bass: Marty O’Brien
Drums: Mark Colbert
String Arrangement: David Campbell and David Hodges
David Hodges and Mark Colbert appear courtesy of Epic Records
Ben Moody appears courtesy of Wind-up Records