Stay When I'm Hard To Love
Recorded by Diane Butler
Album: Single (2026)

(Capo on 2)

(Intro.)
(Bm) Mmm, (C)mm, mm, mm, (G)mm, yeah (C)

(Verse 1)
I learned how to (Em)smile with tears in my eyes
How to survive (C) while slowly dying inside
Gave too much love (G) to people passing through
Till I forgot what (B7)love was supposed to do
I carry pain (Em) like it belonged to me
Oh, my heart (C) break like a memory
But look at me now, (G) I'm still standing here
After (B7)all these broken years
And I don't need (Em) the world's approval anymore (C)
If they don't understand (G) me, that's what closed doors are (B7) for

(Chorus)
Stay when I'm hard to love (Em)
Not just when I'm giving you (C)all of me
'Caus„u women like me don't com„u (G) from comfort
We come from surviv-(C)-ing everything
Love me when my mind gets (Em)heavy
When my nights get dark and (C)messy
I'm not perfect, I never was (G)
(G) But nobody will love you the way I do (Am)
So if you want something (Em)honest
Something deeper, then just touch, (C) mm
Take my scars and take my (G)heart
And stay when I'm (B7)hard to love

(Verse 2)
I cele-(Em)brate every part of myself now
Even the (C)woman they judged back then somehow
'Cause every (G)version that I had to be
Led me (B7) back home to me
And honestly, (Em) I'm finally feeling good
The way I healed, (C) so probably should
No more shrinking to (G)make people stay
If they leave, (B7) let them walk away
I don't (Em)need saving anymore
But your (C)love feels safe to fall into

(Chorus)
(Em)Stay when I'm hard to love (C)
Not just when I'm giving you (G)all of me
'Cause women like me don't come (B7) from comfort
We come from surviv-(Em)-ing everything
Love me when my mind gets (C)heavy
When my nights get dark and (G)messy
I'm not perfect, I never was (B7)
But nobody will love you the way I do, (Em) oh

(Bridge)
So if you want something (C)honest
Something deeper then just touch (G)
Take my scars and take my (B7)heart
And stay when I'm (Em)hard to love

(Instrumental)
|(Em) / / / |(C) / / / |(G) / / / |(B7) / /

(Verse 3)
I made (Em)peace with my past
With the girl who (C)begged love to last
Now I know my (G)worth too much to ever settle for (B7)almost
Maybe I cry a little (Em)more these days
But at least now I don't (C)hide my pain
'Cause strong women don't be-(G)come strong by luck
We become strong (B7) because life was worth

(Chorus)
(Em)Stay when my smile ain't shining
(C)When my whole world feels like colapsing
(G)When I'm overthinking at midnight
Trying to (B7)win another fight inside me
Be my (Em)calm when I feel chaos
Be my (C)home when I feel lost
And I'll (G)give you every part of me
That heartbreak (B7)couldn't destroy
I'm not looking for (Em)somebody perfect, oh
I just want (C) somebody true, oh
Someone who (G)will still hold my hand
When the hard days (B7) come into view

(Outro.)
So if your love is (Em)really different
If your forever (C)isn't just talk
Then let me (G)be your woman
(B7) And I swear to God
I won't let your heart break apart (Em) (C)
Mmm, (G) yeah (B7) mmm (Em) - - - - -