I Feel Pretty
Jim Bryant/Marni Nixon Lyrics
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Chino? Why Chino?
Maybe she's just dolling up for us, gracias querida
Rosalia, Consuelo my adorable friends
Can you keep a secret?
I'm hot for secrets
No, I won't tell you
What?
What?
The poor girl is out of her mind
I am crazy
She might be at that
She looks somehow different
I do
And I think she is up to something
I am
I do, I am, she talks like a parrot
What is goin' on with you Maria?
I feel pretty
Oh, so pretty
I feel pretty, and witty and gay
And I pity
Any girl who isn't me today
I feel charming
Oh, so charming
It's alarming how charming I feel
And so pretty
That I hardly can believe I'm real
See the pretty girl in that mirror there
Who can that attractive girl be?
Such a pretty face, such a pretty dress
Such a pretty smile such a pretty me!
I feel stunning
And entrancing
Feel like running and dancing for joy
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy!
Have you met my good friend Maria
The craziest girl on the block?
You'll know her the minute you see her
She's the one who is in an advanced state of shock
She thinks she's in love
She thinks she's in Spain (la la lala la)
She isn't in love, she's merely insane
It must be the heat
Or some rare disease (la lala la)
Or too much to eat
Or maybe it's fleas
Keep away from her send for Chino!
This is not the Maria, we know!
Modest and pure, polite and refined (la lala la)
Well-bred and mature, and out of her mind!
Miss America (Miss America)
Ay que linda te ves
Miss America bravo
Speech (speech)
I feel pretty
Oh, so pretty
That the city should give me its key
A committee
Should be organized to honor me (la la lala lala lala)
I feel dizzy
I feel sunny
I feel fizzy and funny and fine
And so pretty
Miss America can just resign! (Lala lala lala lala)
See the pretty girl in that mirror there
What mirror where?
Who can that attractive girl be?
Which? What? Where? Whom?
Such a pretty face, such a pretty dress, such a pretty smile, such a pretty me!
Such a pretty me! Such a pretty me! Such a pretty me!
I feel stunning (I feel stunning)
And entrancing (and entrancing)
Feel like running and dancing for joy
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy!
The lyrics to Jim Bryant/Marni Nixon's "I Feel Pretty" from the musical "West Side Story" portrays Maria's feelings of being pretty and charming. At first, her friends Rosalia and Consuelo comment on how Maria looks different and is up to something, to which Maria confirms that she indeed feels pretty and is crazy. This is followed by Maria singing the chorus "I feel pretty, oh so pretty, I feel pretty and witty and gay, and I pity any girl who isn't me today." Maria is so enamored with her appearance that she wants the whole city to know about it and for a committee to honor her.
However, her outburst of feelings is not taken kindly by her friends, who believe that she is out of her mind. They suggest that she has either caught some disease, eaten too much or has fleas! They even suggest sending for Chino to bring her back to normalcy. The lyrics convey the idea of how appearances and feelings can be a double-edged sword, where one can be elated about their appearance, but it can bring about unwanted attention and scrutiny from others.
Line by Line Meaning
What has Chino done to her
Why is Maria acting differently?
Chino? Why Chino?
Why is Chino relevant?
Maybe she's just dolling up for us, gracias querida
Maybe Maria has just gotten pretty for our sake. She thanks us.
Rosalia, Consuelo my adorable friends
Maria greets her friends Rosalia and Consuelo.
Can you keep a secret?
Maria asks her friends if they can keep a secret.
I'm hot for secrets
Maria really likes secrets.
No, I won't tell you
Maria decides not to share her secret.
What?
Her friends are confused about what secret they are not sharing.
The poor girl is out of her mind
Maria's friends think she is crazy.
I am crazy
Maria admits that she is crazy.
She might be at that
Maria's friends agree that she is crazy.
She looks somehow different
Maria's friends notice that she looks different.
I do
Maria confirms that she looks different.
And I think she is up to something
Her friends think Maria is doing something sneaky.
I am
Maria admits that she is up to something.
I do, I am, she talks like a parrot
Maria's friends are annoyed that she keeps repeating herself.
What is goin' on with you Maria?
Maria's friends want to know what is happening with her.
I feel pretty
Maria feels beautiful.
Oh, so pretty
She feels very beautiful.
I feel pretty, and witty and gay
Maria feels not only beautiful but also clever and happy.
And I pity
Maria pities
Any girl who isn't me today
Maria thinks that any girl who isn't her today is missing out.
I feel charming
Maria feels charming.
Oh, so charming
She feels very charming.
It's alarming how charming I feel
Maria is surprised by how charming she feels.
And so pretty
Maria is still feeling pretty.
That I hardly can believe I'm real
Maria can't believe she looks and feels so good.
See the pretty girl in that mirror there
Maria sees a pretty girl in the mirror.
Who can that attractive girl be?
Maria wonders who that girl could be.
Such a pretty face, such a pretty dress
Maria admires her own face and dress.
Such a pretty smile such a pretty me!
Maria loves everything about herself.
I feel stunning
Maria feels stunning.
And entrancing
Maria feels like she is captivating.
Feel like running and dancing for joy
Maria feels like dancing with happiness.
For I'm loved
She knows that someone loves her.
By a pretty wonderful boy!
Maria feels loved by a wonderful boy.
You'll know her the minute you see her
Maria is someone who stands out.
She thinks she's in love
Maria thinks she is in love.
She thinks she's in Spain (la la lala la)
Maria is acting like she is in love and in Spain (which is not true).
She isn't in love
Maria isn't actually in love.
She's merely insane
Maria's friends think she is crazy.
It must be the heat
Maria's friends suggest the heat may be affecting her.
Or some rare disease (la lala la)
Maria's friends joke she may have a disease causing her strange behavior.
Or too much to eat
Maria's friends suggest she may have eaten too much.
Or maybe it's fleas
Maria's friends make a humorous suggestion that she may have fleas.
Keep away from her send for Chino!
Maria's friends want to distance themselves from her and get Chino to help.
This is not the Maria, we know!
Maria's behavior is very different from her usual self.
Modest and pure, polite and refined (la lala la)
Maria is usually very polite and modest, but now she's acting different.
Well-bred and mature, and out of her mind!
Maria's friends think she is acting much less mature than she normally does.
Miss America (Miss America)
Maria compares herself to Miss America.
Ay que linda te ves
She thinks she looks beautiful.
Miss America bravo Speech (speech)
Maria is pretending to give a speech because she feels like a beauty queen.
That the city should give me its key
Maria thinks the city should give her a key to the city because she is so pretty.
A committee
Maria thinks a committee should be organized for her.
Should be organized to honor me (la la lala lala lala)
Maria thinks people should honor her for being so pretty.
I feel dizzy
Maria is feeling lightheaded from all the excitement.
I feel sunny
Maria is feeling happy and warm.
I feel fizzy and funny and fine
Maria is feeling happy, lightheaded, and good.
Miss America can just resign! (Lala lala lala lala)
Maria thinks that she is more beautiful than Miss America and thus should resign.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind