Because of You by Kelly Clarkson deals with the lasting emotional effects of her parents divorce on her as she was growing up. It was written when she was 16 but only released on her second album, Breakaway, in 2004. She struggled to include the song on the album due to its vulnerable and personal lyrics.
Key: G
G
D
Em
C
I will not make the same mistakes that you did
G
D
I will not let myself
Em
C
Cause my heart so much misery
G
D
Em
I will not break the way you did,
C
You fell so hard
G
D
I've learned the hard way
C
D
To never let it get that far
D
Em
Because of you
C
D
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Em
Because of you
C
D
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Em
Because of you
C
D
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone a-round me
Em
Because of you
D
I am a-fraid
G
D
I lose my way
Em
C
G
And it's not too long be-fore you point it out
D
I cannot cry
Em
C
G
Be-cause I know that's weakness in your eyes
D
I'm forced to fake
Em
C
G
A smile, a laugh e-veryday of my life
D
My heart can't possibly break
C
D
When it wasn't even whole to start with
D
Em
Because of you
C
D
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Em
Because of you
C
D
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
Em
Because of you
C
D
I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
Em
Because of you
D
I am a-fraid
Em
I watched you die
C
D
I heard you cry every night in your sleep
Em
I was so young
C
D
You should have known better than to lean on me
Em
C
You never thought of anyone else
D
You just saw your pain
Em
C
And now I cry in the middle of the night
D
For the same damn thing
D
Em
Because of you
C
D
I never stray too far from the sidewalk
Em
Because of you
C
D
I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt