beautiful too

You told me to love the skin I’m in…

Then showed me which shade you’d choose.

Do you know what that does to a little girl?

Yeah…

This one’s for her.

Mama said, “Baby, hold your head high,”

But I learned to read a room through the side-eye.

Heard “she’s pretty” when my friends walked through,

Then “you look strong” when they turned to my view.

I was sixteen, getting ready for the dance,

Changed my dress twice,

hoping for a chance.

Didn’t need a crown,

didn’t need the whole room,

Just somebody’s face lighting up at my coming through.

Every time you said,

“Don’t take it that way,” I took another piece of myself away.

Now I’m bringing her home,

letting her breathe, Telling that girl what she needed from me.

I’m beautiful too,

Before I do a thing for you.

Before I carry all this weight,

Before I prove what I can take.

Can somebody hold me?

Let these tired shoulders loose?

I know how to be strong… But I’m beautiful too.

(ooh, beautiful too)

You call it preference;

I remember being ten,

Watching who got picked,

who was left again.

Same girls on the screen,

same praise in the songs,

Had me checking my reflection like my face was wrong.

“Pretty for a dark girl”—let the last words go,

Why you put a little fence where a compliment should grow?

Called me grown before I had a chance to be,

Just a kid with scraped knees wanting somebody to see me.

Now I speak my mind,

you say I’m coming too loud,

Spent years swallowing words just to fit in your crowd.

Some days I need help,

some nights I need rest,

Some love that doesn’t come with another little test.

And my light-skinned sister ain’t the cause of my pain,

We can both shine bright without ranking the shades.

I’m done passing down what was handed to me,

Let the next little girl love the face that she sees.

I’m beautiful too,

Before I do a thing for you.

Before I carry all this weight,

Before I prove what I can take.

Can somebody hold me?

Let these tired shoulders loose?

I know how to be strong… But I’m beautiful too.

(ooh,

beautiful too)

Let me wear flowers,

Let me fall apart.

Let me say, “That hurt me,” And believe I have a heart.

Kiss me in the daylight,

Say it where they hear.

I spent so long feeling hidden…

I deserve to feel you here.

I’m beautiful too,

And I’m finally seeing the truth.

In the mirror, standing bare,

Mama’s eyes and Daddy’s stare.

I can let somebody hold me,

I’ve got nothing left to prove.

I am strong,

I am tender…

And I’m beautiful too.

(yeah, beautiful too)

To the little girl waiting to hear it:

You’re beautiful.

No “for a.” No “but.”

You.