Beautiful Too

(Mmm) Mississippi rain

tapping on that screen door

Mama’s in the kitchen

And I’m looking in that old hallway mirror

Trying to see what she sees

Mama said,

“Love yourself, baby,” brushing the hair off my face

Mama said, “Love yourself,

baby,” brushing the hair off my face

Then I stepped outside that doorway Heard folks putting shades in place

They called my lighter sister pretty,

called me tough before my time

I was just a little girl,

wanted somebody’s eyes to shine

Lord, I’m beautiful too

Yes, I’m beautiful too

Got this deep brown skin

Got a heart that bruises blue

Lay your hand upon my shoulder,

let me lean awhile on you

I’ve been strong since I was little… but I’m beautiful too

Sunday morning by the river,

sunlight laying on my skin

Sunday morning by the river,

sunlight laying on my skin

For a moment I felt lovely,

then those old words crept back in

“Pretty for a dark girl”—why’d you have to add that part?

You walked off feeling kindly,

left a splinter in my heart

You say I got an attitude when I tell you where it

hurts Say I got an attitude

when I tell you where it hurts

I’ve been swallowing my sorrow,

trying to find some gentle words

I don’t blame my lighter sister;

she ain’t done a thing to me

There’s enough love at this table,

pull another chair up,

please

Let me cry on the front porch

Let me take my working shoes off

Don’t ask me to carry nothing—this old day’s been hard enough

Tell me I look lovely,

with my hair tied up this way

I shouldn’t have to earn sweet words by making everything okay

Oh, I’m beautiful too

Yes, I’m beautiful too

Morning light across my face,

and I’m finally seeing it through

You can meet me with some tenderness,

I’ve got room for loving too I’m strong enough to tell you

I need holding

I need sweetness

And I’m beautiful too (Mmm) Leave that porch light burning

I’m coming home to myself