It’s M.C. and Y.J
Another hit, OK
We lookin’ fly, takin’ off
Saw us on a runway
On any given Sunday, Monday, Tuesday
They try to confuse me
I never let ’em use me

I was a girl, you was the man
I was too young to understand
I was naïve, I just believed
Everything that you told me
Said you were strong, protecting me
Then I found out that you were weak
Keeping me there, under your thumb
‘Cause you were scared that I’d become much
More than you could handle
Shining like a chandelier
That decorated every room inside
The private hell we built
And I dealt with it
Like a kid, I wished I could fly away, but instead

I kept my tears inside
‘Cause I knew if I started, I’d keep cryin’
For the rest of my life with you
I finally built up the strength to walk away
Don’t regret it, but I still live with the side effects

Waking up scared some nights
Still dreaming about them violent times
Still a little protective ’bout the people that I let inside
Still a little defensive, thinkin’ folks be tryin’ to run my life
Still a little depressed inside
I fake a smile and deal with the side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)

Vacant inside, no one was there
Couldn’t be real, had to keep quiet
Once in a while, put up a fight
It’s just too much, night after night
After a while, I would just lie
You was dead wrong, said you was right
Did what I could just to survive
Couldn’t believe this was my life
Flickering like a candle
Doing my best to handle sleeping with the enemy
Aware that he was smothering every last part of me
So I broke away and finally found the strength to leave

Kept the tears inside
‘Cause I knew if I started I’d keep crying
For the rest of my life with you
I finally built up the strength to walk away
Don’t regret it, but I still live with the side effects

Waking up scared some nights
Still dreaming about them violent times
Still a little protective ’bout the people that I let inside
Still a little defensive, thinkin’ folks be tryin’ to run my life
Still a little depressed inside
I fake a smile and deal with the side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
Side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
(Hey, hey, hey, let’s go!)

Hey, magnifical, or should I say magnificent? (Yeah)
Ain’t nothing worth your happiness
And I ain’t caring who you’re with
Misery loves company
So we ain’t tryna hang with y’all
Hurt you if you let ’em in
Gotta keep your circle small
Keep tryin’ to play apology
I tell him I ain’t bowlin’ though
Think they want me outta here
I tell ’em I ain’t goin’ though
Side effects be drowsiness, loneliness
How is this?
I think the call it hateration
What can you prescribe for this?

Forgive, but I can’t forget
Every day I deal with this
I live with the side effects
But I ain’t gon’ let them get the best of me (I forgive)
Forgive, but I can’t forget (My)
Every day I deal with this
I live with the side effects
But I ain’t gon’ let them get the best of me (Hey, oh)

I kept my tears inside
‘Cause I knew if I started I’d keep crying
For the rest of my life with you
I finally built up the strength to walk away
(The strength to walk away)
Don’t regret it, but I still live with the side effects

Waking up scared some nights (Hey, hey)
Still dreaming about them violent times (Said I still wake up)
Still a little protective about the people that I let inside (Cryin)
Still a little defensive, thinkin’ folks be tryin’ to run my life
Still a little depressed inside
I fake a smile and deal with the side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)
Side effects (Oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh)

Written by Mariah Carey, Scott Storch, Crystal Johnson, Jay Jenkins.