Sympathetic Character Lyrics

Lyrics and music by Alanis Morissette 

I was afraid you'd hit me if i'd spoken up i was 
afraid of your physical strength i was afraid 
you'd hit me below the belt i was afraid of your 
sucker punch i was afraid of your reducing me 
i was afraid of your alcohol breath i was afraid 
of your complete disregard for me i was afraid 
of your temper i was afraid of handles being 
flown off of i was afraid of holes being punched 
into walls i was afraid of your testosterone 
I have as much rage as you have 
I have as much pain as you do 
I've lived as much hell as you have 
and i've kept mine bubbling under for you 

Chorus: 
you were my best friend 
you were my lover 
you were my mentor 
you were my brother 
you were my partner 
you were my teacher 
you were my very own sympathetic character 

i was afraid of verbal daggers i was afraid of the 
calm before the storm i was afraid for my own 
bones i was afraid of your seduction i was afraid of 
your coercion i was afraid of your rejection 
i was afraid of your intimidation i was afraid of 
your punishment i was afraid of your icy silences 
i was afraid of your volume i was afraid of your 
manipulation i was afraid of your explosions 

I have as much rage as you do 
I have as much pain as you do 
I've lived as much hell as you have 
and i've kept mine bubbling under for you 

(Repeat Chorus X2) 

you were my keeper 
you were my anchor 
you were my family 
you were my saviour 
and therein lay the issue 
and therein lay the problem