In September 2005, Fantasia published her memoir (which she dictated to a freelance writer), Life is Not a Fairy Tale. In it she revealed that she is functionally illiterate. She discussed this in an interview on 20/20, saying she hadn't been able to read contracts, and she simply memorized the songs she was told to perform and sing on her records.
This Is Me
Fantasia Barrino Lyrics
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This is me
[speaking] this is who i am..
[verse one]
I'm still tryna make it out
Cause i'm still just another girl from the ghetto
I break down cause i'm so deep in the struggle
(there isn't sun in rain. there ain't joy in pain.)
Thought i found my way out then i'm back again
From the streets to the stage of hollywood
Back to the blessings
And the love in the hood
[chorus]
I'm just a girl tryna make a way (ohhhohhh)
It gets so hard but i'll be ok (be ok)
I don't really care what the people say
Cause this is me
A mother, a daughter (daughter), a sis to my brother (sis to my brother)
I'm every woman cause i gotta be
And god put me through it
Cause he know i can do it
Cause this is me yeah
[verse two]
Southern girl with city dreams
Got a sack full of clothes and just a few ol' dollars
Bustin' tables while i'm tryna sing
Hope i hit it big so i can send for my daughter
(there isn't sun in rain. there ain't joy in pain.)
Thought i found my way out then i'm back again
From the streets to the stage of hollywood
Back to the blessings
And the love in the hood
[chorus]
I'm just a girl tryna make a way (make a way)
It gets so hard but i'll be ok (ohhhohhh)
I don't really can what the people say (oh yeah)
Cause this is me (this is me yeah)
A mother (mother), a daughter, a sis to my brother (sis to my brother)
I'm every woman cause i gotta be (oh yeah)
And god put me through it
Cause he know i can do it
Cause this is me yeah
[breakdown]
No one really knows the whole truth
(the whole truth about me)
And no one's had to live in my life
(then they would know it ain't easy)
Made my share of mistakes
That's alright
Cause i'm not gone be afraid no more
Cause this is me
And i won't hide who i am
[chorus (all the way out)]
I'm just a girl tryna make a way (ohhh oh yeah!)
It gets so hard but i'll be ok
I don't really care what the people say (what the people really say!) (oh yeah!)
Cause this is me
A mother, a daughter, a sis to my brother (sis to my brother)
I'm every woman cause i gotta be (hey!)
And god put me through it
Cause he know i can do it
Cause this is me yeah
The song “This is Me” by Fantasia Barrino is a powerful reflection of the artist’s personal journey from the ghetto to Hollywood. The song presents autobiographical and empowering themes of survival and perseverance through the struggles that the songwriter has faced. The first verse depicts the continuous effort to make it out of the ghetto, despite life's difficulties. The chorus holds a message of finding one's own path and not allowing outside negativity to hinder personal growth, stressing the importance of the roles of a mother, daughter, and sister. The second verse explains the aspiring journey to hit big in the music industry in order to provide for her daughter. The breakdown showcases how the songwriter's experiences and mistakes have shaped who she is today, culminating in a sense of empowerment for her past and who she is now. Throughout the song, the use of repetition emphasizes the struggles she has had to endure, as well as her determination to succeed.
In conclusion, "This is Me" is a song that speaks to hardships, perseverance, and overcoming challenges. It sends a message of hope and encourages listeners to stand up and declare who they are. By creating a song that is both personal and universal, Fantasia Barrino has given a voice to those who may be struggling and empowers them to feel confident in themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
This is who I am
I identify myself as me, nothing more, nothing less
I'm still tryna make it out
I'm trying to overcome my struggles and succeed
Cause i'm still just another girl from the ghetto
I am from a tough background and trying to make it despite the challenge
There's so much in my life
My life is eventful and has lots of challenges
I break down cause I'm so deep in the struggle
I get overwhelmed because of my struggles
Thought I found my way out then I'm back again
I often feel like I've made progress, but end up back where I started
From the streets to the stage of Hollywood
I have come a long way from the streets to Hollywood
Back to the blessings and the love in the hood
Despite my success, I remain connected to my roots and my community
A mother, a daughter, a sis to my brother
I have multiple roles as a woman
I'm just a girl tryna make a way
I am a young woman trying to find my path in life
It gets so hard but i'll be ok
I face tough times, but I remain hopeful that things will get better
I don't really care what the people say
I don't care about other people's opinions of me
Southern girl with city dreams
I come from the southern states but aspire to achieve in the city
Got a sack full of clothes and just a few ol' dollars
I have limited resources
Hope I hit it big so I can send for my daughter
I want to succeed so I can provide for my child
No one really knows the whole truth the whole truth about me
People only know bits and pieces of information about me
And no one's had to live in my life If they did, then they would know it ain't easy
Others haven't experienced my struggles, so they don't understand how hard it is
Made my share of mistakes
I have made mistakes in my life
That's alright
It's okay that I make mistakes
Cause i'm not gone be afraid no more
I won't be afraid anymore
And i won't hide who i am
I am true to myself and won't hide my identity
And god put me through it Cause he know i can do it Cause this is me yeah
God knows I am strong enough to handle my struggles
Contributed by Ruby L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.