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 this 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 cryin' 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

Wakin' up scared some nights
Still dreamin' 'bout the violent times
Still a little protective 'bout the people
That I let inside
Still a little defensive
Thinkin' folks be tryin' to run my life
Still a little depressed
Inside I fake a smile and deal with the

Side effects
Side effects
Side effects
Side effects

Vacant 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 a while I would just lie
You were dead wrong said you were right
Did what i could just to survive
Couldn't believe this was my life

Flickering like a candle
Doin' my best to handle
Sleepin with the enemy
Aware that he was smothering
Every last part of me
So I broke away and finally
Found the strength to breathe

I kept my tears inside cause I knew if I
Started I'd keep cryin' 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

Wakin' up scared some nights
Still dreamin' 'bout the violent times
Still a little protective 'bout the people
That I let inside
Still a little defensive
Thinkin' folks be tryin' to run my life
Still a little depressed
Inside I fake a smile and deal with the

Side effects
Side effects
Side effects
Side effects

Forgive but I can't forget
Everyday I deal with this
I live with the side effects
But I ain't gon let them get the best of me
Forgive but I can't forget
Everyday I deal with this
I live with the side effects
But I ain't gon let them get the best of me

I kept my tears inside cause I knew if I
Started I'd keep cryin' 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

Wakin' up scared some nights
Still dreamin' 'bout the violent times
Still a little protective 'bout the people
That I let inside
Still a little defensive
Thinkin' folks be tryin' to run my life
Still a little depressed
Inside I fake a smile and deal with the

Side effects
Side effects
Side effects
Side effects