I was a girl
You was a man
I was too young
To understand
I was naive
I just believed
Everything that you told me
Said you were strong
Protecting me
Then I found out
That you were weak
Keeping me there
Under your thumb
Cause you were scared
That I'd become

Much more than you could handle
Shining like a chandelier
That decorated every room
Inside the private Hell we built
And I dealt with it
Like a kid I wished
I could fly away
But instead
I kept my tears inside
Cause I knew if I started
I'd keep crying for the rest
Of my life with you
I finally built up the strength
To walk away
Don't regret it

But I still live with the
Side effects
Waking up scared some nights
Still dreaming about them violent times
Still a little protective
About the people that I let inside
Still a little defensive
Thinking folk be trying to run my life
Still a little bit depressed inside
I fake a smile
And deal with the side effects

Side effects
Side effects
Side effects
Side effects

Thinking inside
No-one was there
Couldn't be real
Had to keep quiet
Once in a while
Put up a fight
It's just too much
Night after night
After awhile I would just lie
You was dead wrong
Said you was right
Did what I could
Just to survive
Couldn't believe
This was my life

Flickering like a candle
Doing my best to handle
Sleeping with the enemy
Aware that he was smothering
Every last part of me
So I broke away
And finally found the strength
To be me

I kept my tears inside
Cause I knew if I started
I'd keep crying for the rest
Of my life with you
I finally built up the strength
To walk away
Don't regret it

But I still live with the
Side effects
Waking up scared some nights
Still dreaming about them violent times
Still a little protective
About the people that I let inside
Still a little defensive
Thinking folk be trying to run my life
Still a little bit depressed inside
I fake a smile

Side effects
Side effects
Side effects
Side effects

Forgive but I can't forget
Every day I'm filled with this
I live with the side effects
But I ain't gonna let
Them get the best of me