Because of You
Reba & Kelly Lyrics


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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 everyday of my life
My heart can't possibly break
When it wasn't even whole to start with

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 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
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
Because of you

Overall Meaning

The song "Because of You" by Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson is a powerful and emotionally charged ballad about the lingering effects of childhood trauma. The song follows the story of a young woman who is struggling to cope with the aftermath of her mother's emotional abuse and neglect. Through her lyrics, the young woman vows to break the cycle of abuse and do things differently, affirming that she will not let herself cause her heart so much misery or break the way her mother did. The chorus of the song reveals the lasting impact of her mother's actions on her life, highlighting how her experiences have influenced her in everything she does, from how she relates to people to how she navigates the world around her. The lyrics reveal that because of her mother's neglect, the young woman is now filled with fear, mistrust, and shame, unable to allow anyone to get close to her or to connect with other people in any meaningful way.


The song is a poignant and heartbreaking reminder of how our early experiences shape who we become, and how difficult it can be to break free from the patterns of behavior we learned at a young age. It speaks to the power of trauma to shape our lives and encourage us to question who we are, what we believe, and what we are capable of becoming. Ultimately, the song is a message of hope, encouraging listeners to find their own way forward, to break free from the patterns that once held them back, and to find a path towards healing and wholeness.


Line by Line Meaning

I will not make The same mistakes that you did
I am determined not to repeat the mistakes that you made in the past.


I will not let myself Cause my heart so much misery
I won't allow my heart to suffer the same pain you experienced.


I will not break The way you did, you fell so hard
I won't collapse the way you did, you were once in a very difficult situation.


I've learned the hard way To never let it get that far
I've learned the hard way not to let things get as bad as they did for you.


Because of you I never stray too far from the sidewalk
I feel like I have to be cautious in my life because of the negative impact you had on me.


Because of you I learned to play on the safe side so I don't get hurt
I learned to be careful and avoid risks like you did to avoid getting hurt.


Because of you I find it hard to trust not only me, but everyone around me
As a result of your actions, I find it difficult to trust not only myself but also everyone around me.


Because of you I am afraid
I'm scared about my future and my present because of the impact you've had on my life.


I lose my way And it's not too long before you point it out
As soon as I lose my confidence, you're always there to remind me.


I cannot cry Because I know that's weakness in your eyes
I feel forced to hold back my emotions because you perceive crying as a weakness.


I'm forced to fake A smile, a laugh everyday of my life
To cope with my feelings, I have to fake my emotions and keep pretending to be happy.


My heart can't possibly break When it wasn't even whole to start with
My heart is already damaged, so there is nothing left to break.


I watched you die I heard you cry every night in your sleep
I saw and heard you suffer through your pain and hurt.


I was so young You should have known Better than to lean on me
I was too young and immature to be relied on for support, and you should have known better.


You never thought of anyone else You just saw your pain
You never considered the damage you might be doing to others around you; you only focused on your own suffering.


And now I cry in the middle of the night For the same damn thing
Now I'm also dealing with the same pain and hurt as you did.


Because of you I try my hardest just to forget everything
I constantly try to forget about everything that happened because of the impact you had on my life.


Because of you I don't know how to let anyone else in
I don't know how to trust someone to be vulnerable and let them in my life because of the impact you had on me.


Because of you I'm ashamed of my life Because it's empty
I'm ashamed of the emptiness in my life, and it's all because of you.


Because of you I am afraid
I'm scared of what could happen in the future because of what happened in the past because of you.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Kelly Brianne Clarkson, Ben Moody, David Hall Hodges

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@melissaderosa4253

Hi justin,

Thank God you've got a new goid man in your life.
I hold this song close to my soul, as my longtime boyfriend is experiencing karma from God, oh well !!!!!! We've got 2 wonderful 👱‍♂️s too!!!!! Our 1st son is a micropremie survivor!!
I'd had 2 small uterine fibroids, at the time of delivery 3 softball + 20 golf ball size fibroids had our baby very crowded, a miracle he was 👍, made it!!!! A extensive amnosenthesis came back all negative, normal. If we'd been told no, the opposite would've not aborted our son 👹 no!!!!!
Hence at 23.5 weeks, 14 ounces, 19+@1/2"s long with a 8+@1/2 month NICU stay!!!!!!
High functioning autistic, ADHD medium, global delaument, partcial up close vision in just 1 eye, overcoming other ore diagnoses!!!!
I know God has a soulmate for me!!!!! Been to 👹 n back it seems like alot in my 52++/2years here on 🌎!!!! We're had the police called on us alot, I've had to make 911 calls too, cos or child protective services at our house alot too!!!! Thank God, we get to keep our 2 👱‍♂️s!!
Life ain't easy akwsys!!! 👹 yeah God our Creator God + 🌅 Father gives us more than we can take!!!!!!!!

Just before Easter due to the cornavirus we'd lost a deputy police officer friend !!!! Ge was also gay, so what...it didn't matter to us!!!! Advocated for gay and = rights within the police force, for gay people, for special needs children and animals too!!!!! This was a Godly, good souled man!!!!
Our 👱‍♂️a and he would run to each other!!! He'd swoop them up individually, a solid hug+a quick kiss on the top of their head !!!!! We'd getcha solid good hug, quick cheek kiss!!
He'd wanted to leave a legacy, well our family 👹 yeah is still mourning him and by God,will assist his family, our 1 son's school, his fiance', etc carry on his stellar legacy!!!!! R.I.P. OUR BELOVED DEPUTY 😇🌞🌜🌅🌎🙏😘👍,YOU'RE MISSED, THOUGHT OF DAILY!!!! WE 4 WON'T LET YA ,WHAT YOU'D WANTED TO BE 4GOTTEN TOLL WE JOIN YA IN🌅 HOPEFULLY WHEN WE'RE 100 LIVED A LONG LIFE ON 🌎!!!!!!

ARE YOU DRY 👀ED, OR 😭ING YET????!!!!!!

HUGS AND LOVE:
Melissa



@melissaderosa4253

Hey justin,

Ditto because of you song is us survivors, my babies!!!!!!
God bless you and your new man who I'm sure your kin and friends are so damn glad ya got after the 👹!!!!!!

Not to get into politics, we want President Trump re elected another 4 years, God bless our service personnel, those we've lost from the cornavirus as we lost a gsy deputy friend who we all ❤ed 1 another, our early 😇in 🌅, OUR HERO AND WE'LL CARRY LUR HIS WISHWS OF CARRYING ON HIS LEGACY HE'D PAVED THE WAY FOR GAY PEOPLE, SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN, PROTECT RHOSE YA R3VERE HOLD UP HIGH, ANIMALS, HONOR OUR CREATOR, THE ALPHA PLUS OMEGA OUR GOD AMEN HELL 👹YEAH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE'RE GOING TO MY STEP BROTHER IN LAW AND HIS FAMILY IN PORT SAINT LUCIE, FLORIDA WE MEED A MINI VACATION 👹YEAH A YEAR SINCE WE'D BEEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'M ALMOST PACKED, DOING MY LAST LOAD OF LAUNDRY NOW AND WILL.DRY, PUT AWAY PACK A LIL' GET US READY BY 2PM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I 🙏 ALL GOES WELL WE.COME BACK ON MONDAY MID DAY!!!!!
I'M MAKING THE 👱‍♂️S EUN AROUND AFTER THEM, BRWAK UP LOL WE ALL K OW DID AS YOUNGINS SIBLING RIVALRY, OVER EXCITED 👱‍♂️S, FISH, DRINK A FEW WINE SPEITZERS MIS AFTERNOON RO 9PM NOT JUST 1 9F RED OR PINK WINE, FRESH FRUIT IN THE CUP, JUICE SO I'M TALKING 6!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😭YEAH AND OH SONS GO GET YOUR DADDY MAMA ❤S YA!!!!!!!!!!
HE WORKS FEOM 730 OR.8AM TO 53O OR 7PM MONDAY TO FRIDAY, A HALF A SATURDAY, SOMERIMES A HOUR OR.ALL SUNDAY AM AS A AUTO MECHANIC. HE'LL TAKE RHE LIL'SON ON SUNDAY MAYBE BOTH OR.US 3 TO WOEK, THEN WE GO TO THE ICW IN OIR SWIMSUITS GET 🌞, CHILL, FISH, FAMILY TIME DURING THIS DAMN MAJOR LETHAL, SERIOUS CORNAVIRUS!!!!!!!!!!

HIGA AND LOVE,
MELISSA



@DrkMynd

I grew up the oldest child. I wasn't given the same love and devotion that my younger sister was.

This song hits hard because I wasn't allowed to cry. I wasn't alllowed to feel. I just had to accept life as it was.

It sucked ass.

And in the end.....the one they gave up on, saved their asses from the worst of life. Gave them a home...gave them everything they could want. 1 of the 3 died never knowing it....the other 2....still think that I OWE it to them.

Aint life a bitch?



All comments from YouTube:

@jaden8084

This song hits harder after Kelly's Divorce. To hear two Queens sing together really pulls on the heartstrings all over again. ❤

@TH-cw6wb

2 queens. Well said

@TrudyPatootie

Sobbing.
I left an abusive relationship of 30 years because of Kelly's original " Because of You."
I just discovered this. Brought back so many memories. Thank you.
I am madly in love with my husband of 17 years now at the age of 74.

@TrudyPatootie

@James Hama Well, hello! Oh James...how sweet of you to check up on me.
I am doing so good. Got Covid and it was like the flu for me...so that's good.
Still madly in love with my husband. Abusive past is now a distant memory that I lived through.
Your comment made my day. Thank you. And You Friend?

@jordanlash2268

Good for you glad you able to end up really happy

@TrudyPatootie

@Jordan Lash Thank you Jordan
He still makes my heartbeat faster
when I hear his truck coming up the
driveway after 19 years!

@liveandletdie7187

I am in the process of divorce after 35 years of torment and abuse❤

@TrudyPatootie

@Alice in Chains Oh Alice I am so
proud of you having the courage to
leave. 💫
You go on and live your most
fabulous life honey! You deserve it!

16 More Replies...

@thabielee2551

"My heart can't possibly break when it wasn't whole to start with" This line kills me. I 💯% get what she means

@ethelhoose7624

This song is so me

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