| Song | The Hard Way |
| Artist | Paula Cole |
| Album | Ithaca (Bonus Track Version) |
| What a fall from Grace, what a cruel deceit, | |
| What a lack of love behind the sociopathy. | |
| Used me for your secrets, used me for some dimes, | |
| Breaking blood upon this single mother’s whipping hide, | |
| And this bitter wisdom makes me quiet and still. | |
| Peace and happiness, in our hearth and home, | |
| Just optimistic wishes from my blind and trusting hope. | |
| If only I had listened to that inner voice, | |
| I never would have carried out that people-pleasing choice. | |
| And this bitter wisdom makes me scared to trust again. | |
| I found out the hard way, I tasted the apple. | |
| Found out the hard way, abandoned the garden of innocence. | |
| Yes I walked the aisle to make a man of you, | |
| But those very papers brought me unexpected truth. | |
| Crawling back to zero, these lessons in my life, | |
| Bring me closer to the tender mortal life am I, | |
| And this sober wisdom brings silver linings to light. | |
| I found out the hard way, I tasted the apple, | |
| Found out the hard way, I played in the lightning, | |
| Found out the hard way by pushing the boundaries, | |
| Found out the hard way, abandoned the garden of innocence. | |
| Found out the hard way, discovered a backbone, | |
| Found out the hard way, I learned to love myself, | |
| Found out the hard way, the payment for freedom, | |
| Found out the hard way, abandoned the garden of innocence. |
| What a fall from Grace, what a cruel deceit, | |
| What a lack of love behind the sociopathy. | |
| Used me for your secrets, used me for some dimes, | |
| Breaking blood upon this single mother' s whipping hide, | |
| And this bitter wisdom makes me quiet and still. | |
| Peace and happiness, in our hearth and home, | |
| Just optimistic wishes from my blind and trusting hope. | |
| If only I had listened to that inner voice, | |
| I never would have carried out that peoplepleasing choice. | |
| And this bitter wisdom makes me scared to trust again. | |
| I found out the hard way, I tasted the apple. | |
| Found out the hard way, abandoned the garden of innocence. | |
| Yes I walked the aisle to make a man of you, | |
| But those very papers brought me unexpected truth. | |
| Crawling back to zero, these lessons in my life, | |
| Bring me closer to the tender mortal life am I, | |
| And this sober wisdom brings silver linings to light. | |
| I found out the hard way, I tasted the apple, | |
| Found out the hard way, I played in the lightning, | |
| Found out the hard way by pushing the boundaries, | |
| Found out the hard way, abandoned the garden of innocence. | |
| Found out the hard way, discovered a backbone, | |
| Found out the hard way, I learned to love myself, | |
| Found out the hard way, the payment for freedom, | |
| Found out the hard way, abandoned the garden of innocence. |