Love Me When I'm Hard to Love
Recorded by Wilder Reed
Album: AFTER THE DAMAGE (2026)

(Capo on 3)

(Intro.)
|(G) / / / |(D) / Mmm |(Em) / / / |(C) /

(Verse 1)
Not mad at (G)you, I'm mad at me
I walk in (D)quiet, you can feel it
Boots by the (Em)door like a warning sign
Like I brought the (C)storm in again tonight
You ask what's wrong, (G) I shrug it off
But my hands are (D)shaking when the lights go soft
I hate that you can (Em)tell by the way I breathe
That I'm losing a (C)fight you don't even see

(Pre-Chorus)
I (G)know I get mean when I get scared
I build a (D)wall like I'm living there
If you're (Em)looking for a reason to leave
I'll hand you (C)one, then I'll beg you, please

(Chorus)
Love me when I'm (G)hard to love
When I don't say (D)much, when I say too much
When I act like I (Em)don't need anyone
But I'm falling a-(C)part in the same old dust
Love me when I'm (G)hard to love
When my pride gets (D)sharp and my past shows up
Don't fix me, (Em) just hold me close
And don't let go, (C) when I'm hard to love (G) / / / (D) / /

(Verse 2)
I slam truck (G)doors I didn't mean
Slept on the (D)couch like it's punishment
I said I'm (Em)fine with a dead man voice
Like pain was a (C)habit and not a choice
I'm learning (G)slow but I'm learning true
How to stop turn-(D)ing every good thing loose
If I look a-(Em)way when you say my name
It ain't 'cause I don't (C)want you, it's 'cause I'm ashamed

(Chorus)
Love me when I'm (G)hard to love
When I don't say (D)much, when I say too much
When I act like I (Em)don't need anyone
But I'm falling a-(C)part in the same old dust
Love me when I'm (G)hard to love
When my pride gets (D)sharp and my past shows up
Don't fix me (Em) just hold me close and don't let go (C)
When I'm hard to love (G) / / / (D) /
Oh, when I'm hard to love (Em) / / / (C) / /

(Bridge)
I'm sorry for the (G)nights I made you cry
For a war that was (D)happening in my mind
You ain't my (Em)target, you ain't my blame
You're the safest (C)place I still try to push away
(G)Quotable truth
If I flinch from your (D)touch, it's the past, not you
So if you (Em)stay, I'll do the work
I'll talk it (C)out, I'll break the curse

(Chorus)
Love me when I'm a-(G)lone
When I'm (D)stubborn, when I'm dumb
When the (Em)old me starts acting
Like he's the only (C)one I'm ever gonna become
Love me when I'm (G)hard to love
I'm not easy, but I'm (D)giving it up
I'm still (Em)here, still trying, still yours
So (C)don't let go - - -

(Outro.)
When I'm hard to love (G) / / /
(D) I'm not asking you to save me (Em) / / /
(C) Just don't leave me alone in it (G) / / / (D) / / / (G) - - - - -