Why Does She Stay? Lyrics - Behind Enemy Lines

She's a domestic violence survivor a regular hospital patient 

He swears that it was an accident, she claims it was blatant 

Those who think that they know him will of course have their doubts 

And the ones who believe her will quickly point out 

That it's happened so many times and he hasn't changed yet 

If she doesn't just leave him she deserves what she gets 

She'll get no support from those who don't understand 

Why she would stay with such an abusive man 

Why doesn't she leave? 

Why does she stay in an abusive situation, where he's made her his prisoner 

And the acts of violence get worse every day? 

Many women lose their support systems 

Once the batterer has isolated her and no one will listen 

To her plea for help, her cries of despair 

And when the incident is over he always swears 

That he knows there's a problem and he's going to get help 

Not for her but for himself 

Shifting the focus to his pain and away from hers 

Convincing her that it's not just his problem but both of theirs 

So he needs her support and for her to remain 

Because he really is trying and he's going to change 

So she remains in an abusive situation 

And lives with fear and intimidation 

And the familiar words of regret and repeated apologies 

The psychological battering and sexual abuse 

And the promise of reprisal if she ever leaves 

Each day there's a new bruise that she manages to hide 

Sometimes it's denial and sometimes it's pride 

She really doesn't want to live life this way 

But there are countless reasons why she might stay 

Maybe it's low self-esteem 

No self-respect 

Maybe it's her children that she's trying to protect 

Maybe it's financial security, having a home 

Having to make it out on her own 

Maybe she sees it as normal from her childhood abuse 

Maybe she's tired of fighting so what's the use 

Maybe the police who were called doubted her statement 

Or maybe she loves him and is trying to be patient 

He'll never run out of excuses for his continued assault 

He'll rationalize his abuse and how it's really her fault 

If she'd only obey him and be a better wife 

If he didn't have all of these pressures in his job or his life 

It's not because stress has taken its toll 

But because he's seeking obedience, dominance and power 

And he knows that his abuse gets him control 

And if it gets him what he wants then he'll do it again 

The single greatest cause of injury to women is by abusive men 

Thousands of women are murdered by their partners every year 

Is it so hard to understand why she stays and lives in fear?