Once upon a time there was a girl
                                             In her early years she had to learn
                                             How to grow up living in a war that she called home
                                             Never knew just where to turn for shelter from the storm
                                             It hurt me to see the pain across my mother's face
                                             Every time my father's fists would put her in her place
                                             Hearing all the yelling I would cry up in my room
                                             Hoping it would be over soon
                                             
                                             (Chorus)
                                             Bruises fade father but the pain remains the same
                                             And I still remember how you kept me so afraid
                                             Strength is my mother for all the love she gave
                                             And every morning that I wake I look back on yesterday
                                             And I'm OK
                                             
                                             I often wonder why I carry all this guilt
                                             When it's you that helped me put up all these walls I've built
                                             Shadows stir at night through a crack in the door
                                             The echoes of a broken child screaming please no more
                                             Daddy don't you understand the damage you have done
                                             For you it's just a memory but for me it still lives on
                                             
                                             (Chorus)
                                             Bruises fade father but the pain remains the same
                                             And I still remember how you kept me so, so afraid
                                             Strength is my mother for all the love she gave
                                             Every morning that I wake I look back on yesterday
                                             
                                             It's not so easy to forget, all the marks you left along her neck
                                             When I was thrown against cold stairs
                                             And everyday afraid to come home in fear of what I might see, next
                                             
                                             (Chorus)
                                             Bruises fade father but the pain remains the same
                                             And I still remember how you kept me so afraid
                                             Strength is my mother for all the love you gave
                                             And every morning that I wake, I look back on yesterday
                                             And I'm OK