Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Remember when you were my little boy
Playing with toys, bringing me so much joy
Now thirty-seven, still under my roof
Making excuses, acting so aloof
I cook your meals, I wash your clothes
While you sit there playing games, I suppose
Every time I mention moving out
You throw a fit, scream and shout
"Nobody loves me like you do, mom"
"The world's against me," that's your song
I believed it all, year after year
Now I'm trapped in a cage of my own fear
[Pre-chorus]
Started as nurturing, turned to control
Now I can barely breathe, barely feel whole
[Chorus]
My baby boy turned into my ball and chain
Lost myself trying to ease his pain
[Verse 2]
Credit cards maxed out in my name
"I'll pay you back," always the same
Friends stopped calling, they saw it first
How you manipulate, how you make things worse
You treat me like I'm your girlfriend
Acting jealous when I try to make new friends
Guilt trips whenever I leave the house
"You're abandoning me," you'll grouse
I'm getting older, running out of time
While you're comfortable living off what's mine
The mirror shows what I couldn't see
A woman who forgot how to be free
[Pre-chorus]
Started with love, now it's just demands
My life slipping through these tired hands
[Chorus]
My baby boy turned into my ball and chain
Lost myself trying to ease his pain
[Bridge]
[Spoken]
Today I finally saw it clear
This isn't love, it's just your fear
Of growing up, of standing tall
Of facing life beyond these walls
[Verse 3]
Packed your things, left them by the door
Can't enable you anymore
Yes, I'm your mother, that won't change
But this house ain't your private range
Time to face the world on your own
I need to heal, need to find my home
Within myself, reclaim my life
No more playing your pretend wife
It hurts to do this, but I must
Breaking free from years of trust
That turned to chains around my soul
Now it's time to let you go
[Chorus]
My baby boy turned into my ball and chain
Lost myself trying to ease his pain