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 Hurt me to see the pain across my mother's face Every time my father's fist would put her in her place Hearing all the yelling, I would cry up in my room Hoping it would be over soon 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 at yesterday And I'm okay I often wonder why I've carried 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 echo 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 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 at 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 there 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 Every morning that I wake, I look back at yesterday And I'm okay Mm I'm okay