Stronger Than Ever
Christina Aguilera Lyrics


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What you gave me I know you gave me
You remind me all the time
And how you hurt me and you don't see it
Again I am the child

And though you tell me that you love me
I can't feel it and I'm afraid to let you down
It's all or nothing, I fear that something's wrong

I'm tired of walking on eggshells so terrified to fail
And in order to please you I've abandoned myself
And though it used to hurt me when you push me away
I'm stronger than ever, you made me this way

How I wish you, you suffered less too
It tears us both apart
And it's not pretty the way you criticize me
And how it breaks my heart

And though you tell me (though you tell me)
That you love me (that you love me)
I can't feel it (I can't feel it)
And I'm afraid to let you down
It's all or nothing, (it's all or nothing)
I fear that something's wrong

I'm tired of walking on eggshells so terrified to fail
And in order to please you I've abandoned myself
And though it used to hurt me when you push me away
I'm stronger than ever, you made me this way

How I wish you knew, how much I need you
I feel like running but I can't abandon you
You avoid my gaze, withdraw from me these days
You punish me for trying to be all that you wanted
What more can I do?

I'm tired of walking on eggshells so terrified to fail
(So tired of walking on, don't want to fail)
And in order to please you I've abandoned myself
And though it used to hurt me when you push me away
I'm stronger than ever, you made me this way

I'm tired of walking on eggshells so terrified to fail
And in order to please you I've abandoned myself
(In order to please you, I've abandoned myself)




And though it used to hurt me when you push me away
I'm stronger than ever, you made me this way, oh

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Christina Aguilera's "Stronger Than Ever" depicts the struggle of a child who has grown up under the constant pressure to please their parent. The child expresses the numbness they feel towards the love that their parent claims to have for them, the fear that they may disappoint them, and the desperation to be seen as valuable in their eyes. The lyrics also detail the toll that this pressure has taken on the child's self-esteem as they mention having abandoned themselves in order to please their parent. The child, however, acknowledges their strength and resilience stating that they are "stronger than ever" and crediting their parent for making them that way.


Throughout the song, there is a sense of emotional detachment as the child recognizes the pain they feel from their parent's constant criticism, but the love they still hold for them. The line "How I wish you knew, how much I need you, I feel like running but I can't abandon you" further emphasizes this theme of conflict and confusion. In the end, the child states that they have grown stronger and learned to cope with the pressure, but also laments the fact that their relationship with their parent is less than desirable and causing both of them pain.


Overall, "Stronger Than Ever" is a powerful and emotional piece that explores the complicated relationship between a parent and their child. It highlights the negative impact that pressure to please can have on a child's self-esteem while also acknowledging their resilience and strength.


Line by Line Meaning

What you gave me I know you gave me
I recognize the things you've given me


You remind me all the time
You constantly remind me of what you've done for me


And how you hurt me and you don't see it
You have hurt me and you seem unaware of it


Again I am the child
I feel like a child in this relationship


And though you tell me that you love me
Although you say you love me


I can't feel it and I'm afraid to let you down
I don't feel love from you and I fear disappointing you


It's all or nothing, I fear that something's wrong
I feel like there's something wrong and it's putting pressure on our relationship


I'm tired of walking on eggshells so terrified to fail
I'm exhausted from trying to avoid upsetting you


And in order to please you I've abandoned myself
I've lost my sense of self while trying to make you happy


And though it used to hurt me when you push me away
Although it used to hurt when you pushed me away


I'm stronger than ever, you made me this way
I've become stronger because of the challenges you've put me through


How I wish you, you suffered less too
I wish you didn't have to suffer as well


It tears us both apart
Our struggles are causing damage to our relationship


And it's not pretty the way you criticize me
Your criticism is hurtful and not constructive


And how it breaks my heart
It's difficult to handle the emotional pain


How I wish you knew, how much I need you
I wish you understood how much I rely on you


I feel like running but I can't abandon you
I want to leave, but I feel responsible for you


You avoid my gaze, withdraw from me these days
You're avoiding me and withdrawing from our relationship


You punish me for trying to be all that you wanted
You make me feel punished for trying to meet your expectations


What more can I do?
I'm not sure what else I can do to improve our relationship




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTINA AGUILERA, SAMUEL RONALD DIXON, SIA KATE I. FURLER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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