Because Of You – English Lyrics

• By: Reba McEntire, Kelly Clarkson

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the raw emotion and powerful storytelling of "Because Of You" by Reba McEntire and Kelly Clarkson, a poignant exploration of family dynamics and personal resilience. Through this song, you can learn about expressing vulnerability, understanding the impact of childhood experiences, and finding strength in overcoming emotional challenges. Experience the seamless blend of country and pop as these two vocal powerhouses share a message of heartache and hope.

[English]

(soft music)

♪ 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 watched you die) ♪

♪ I heard you cry every night in your sleep ♪

♪ I was so young (In your sleep) ♪

♪ You should have known better than to lean on me (I was too young for you) ♪

♪ You never thought of anyone else (To lean on me) ♪

♪ You just saw your pain (You never saw me) ♪

♪ 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 find it hard to trust not only me ♪

♪ But everyone around me ♪

♪ Because of you ♪

♪ I am afraid ♪

♪ Because of you ♪

♪ Because of you ♪

♪♪♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mistake /mɪˈsteɪk/ B1	noun - an action or decision that is wrong or carries negative consequences
misery /ˈmɪzəri/ B2	noun - a state of great suffering or unhappiness
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - to believe someone or something is reliable or truthful noun - the belief that someone is honest and reliable
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - an organ that pumps blood through the body noun - the emotional or moral center of a person
fate /feɪt/ B2	noun - the development of events beyond a person's control regarded as determined by a supernatural power
pain /peɪn/ A2	noun - physical suffering caused by injury or illness
smile /smaɪl/ A1	verb - to make a facial expression that shows happiness or amusement noun - an expression made by smiling
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - to believe someone or something is reliable or truthful

Key Grammar Structures

• I will not make the same mistakes that you did

  ➔ Future simple tense with 'will' for spontaneous decisions or predictions

  ➔ 'Will' is used to express a decision or promise made at the moment of speaking or a prediction about the future.

• I am afraid

  ➔ Phrase expressing fear or concern, using 'am' (present tense of 'to be')

  ➔ 'Am' is the first person singular present tense of the verb 'to be', used here to connect the subject 'I' with the adjective 'afraid' to express emotion.

• I watched you die

  ➔ Simple past tense indicating a completed action in the past

  ➔ 'Watched' is the past tense of 'to watch', indicating the action was completed in the past.

• You should have known better than to lean on me

  ➔ Second conditional with perfect modal 'should have' + past participle to express regret or criticism about a past action

  ➔ 'Should have' indicates that the speaker believes a different action was more appropriate in the past.