Released: August 16, 2005

Songwriter: Kelly Clarkson Ben Moody David Hodges

Producer: Ben Moody David Hodges

[Intro]
Ooh-ooh, ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh

[Verse 1]
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

[Chorus 1]
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

[Verse 2]
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, every day of my life
My heart can't possibly break
When it wasn't even whole to start with

[Chorus 1]
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

[Bridge]
I watched you die, I heard you cry every night in your sleep
(I watched you die, in your sleep)
I was so young, you should have known better than to lean on me
(I was too young for you to lean on me)
You never thought of anyone else, you just saw your pain
(You never saw me, yeah yeah)
And now I cry in the middle of the night
For the same damn thing

[Chorus 2]
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

[Outro]
Because of you (Ah ah, ah, ah)
Because of you, mmh, ooh...

Kelly Clarkson

Kelly Brianne Clarkson (born April 24, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter, and occasional actress. In 2002, she came to prominence after winning the first season of American Idol, and has since been established as “The Original American Idol”. Her debut single, “A Moment Like This”, topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and broke the record for the biggest jump to number one in the chart’s history.

Her first album, Thankful included the top ten single “Miss Independent”, which earned her first Grammy nomination. Her second album Breakaway produced the hit single “Since U Been Gone” which reached number two on the Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA.

Clarkson went in a different direction with her self-creatively-controlled third album, My December. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and produced the top-ten single “Never Again.” Her fourth album, All I Ever Wanted debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. Lead single “My Life Would Suck Without You” re-broke the record for biggest jump to number one on the Hot 100, jumping 97-1 in its second week on the chart. The record still stands today.