Born in Detroit in the late 80’s, Lizzo spent much of her formative years in the church, where she was raised on the gospel sounds of The Winans, The Clark Sisters, and Fred Hammond, along with mainstay secular artists such as Stevie Wonder and Elton John. At the age of 10 her family moved to Houston, TX, and Lizzo was exposed to a wide array of emerging Southern musical styles, from the trademark chopped and screwed rap tracks of the underground, to the progressive and polished R&B sounds of groups like Destiny’s Child that were raising the city’s national profile to new heights. In fact, it was after she stumbled across a Destiny’s Child performance at Wal-Mart that Lizzo—then a 5th grader-- was inspired to start writing music on her own. Over the next decade that decision would take her through the trenches of some of the most varied musical genres: R&B girl groups (I.N.I.T.I.A.L.S., Cornrow Clique), progressive rock bands (Elypseas), solo rap ventures, and electro-pop duos (Lizzo & The Larva Ink).
In 2011 she made the move to Minneapolis with Larva Ink in order to be a part of that city’s blossoming and collaborative musical community. Lizzo & The Larva Ink was well received there, and the group earned a few encouraging nods from the press. Lizzo was soon introduced to Sophia Eris and Claire de Lune, with whom she would form The Chalice, the three-piece all-female rap/R&B group that would elevate Lizzo’s profile and reputation. In 2012 The Chalice released We Are The Chalice, an album that would gain them instant local success amongst fans and critics alike, garnering City Pages’ prestigious Best New Band and Picked To Click accolades in the same year.
The success brought setbacks, though, and a falling out soon led to the demise of Lizzo & The Larva Ink. Feeling discontent with the loss of one group and the hurried blur of success of another, Lizzo was creatively drained from writing We Are The Chalice in two short months. She found herself in the throes of her first full-blown case of writer’s block. Unable to create music for herself, she began listening to several different local albums in hopes of finding inspiration. It was LAVA BANGERS, a 20-track instrumental mixtape from Doomtree producer and Minneapolis music vet Lazerbeak, that ultimately caught her ear. Beaks’ beats proved the fix for Lizzo’s problem. “I sat at home and listened to LAVA BANGERS, and when “Lift Every Voice” came on, my writer’s block was cured,” says Lizzo. “I think it revived my gospel roots. I wrote pages and pages of songs, and finally reached out to Lazerbeak, not thinking anything would come of it.”
Her timing could not have been better. Beak, impressed with Lizzo’s output with The Chalice, as well as her guest appearances on several other local releases, was looking for a change of pace from his daily Doomtree production and business responsibilities. He immediately signed on to work on some demos. Beat tapes were exchanged, songs were written, and mutual friend and musical collaborator Ryan Olson (Totally Gross National Product founder, Gayngs/Marijuana Deathsquads mastermind) was brought on board to creatively oversee the project. Olson recorded and edited all 15 tracks in his bedroom studio, bringing in laid back hype-man Cliff Rhymes along the way to add even more layers to Lizzo’s dynamic vocals.
LIZZOBANGERS is the culmination of that four-way collaboration, an album that manages to capture all of the varied musical influences of Lizzo’s upbringing and combine them with the forward-thinking experimental production style of Beak and Olson. The end result is a brave new project that encapsulates the best parts of both the familiar and the future.
My Skin
Lizzo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like learning to love your body is like a
Whole journey that I feel like every
Person, but more specifically, women
Have to go through so I feel like doing
This is a good way to kinda break
Through and kinda seal the last chapter of
The "learning to love" and just loving
Ooh, what's deeper than
What's deeper than the darkest best
Kept secret? Beneath the surface, we could
Let it bring us together, or
It could tear us apart, oh
I'm filled with it
I gotta love with no conditions
Though it's hard to re-envision
Time and time again
Even when, even when it didn't matter anymore
The most beautiful thing that you ever seen
Is even bigger than what we think it means
Reflections in my bloodstreams
It's even bigger than
I woke up in this, I woke up in this
In my skin i can't wash it away
So you can't take it from me my brown skin
Real world, big girl meets world
A crazy position, now your
Dreams is your mission, huh?
Staring in the mirror, realizing
Wish it worked
Now all I wish is for a chance
To give my kids a Ford
I got a family tree that's
Worth praising the Lord
Mama looking like the second
Whoo! Look at God
Sister like a soldier, hold it down
Southwest gon' hold it down, uh
I love you, don't forget it
You beautiful Black masterpiece!
Boy, they don't make brothers like you
Uh, make it happen with that Black girl magic
The hat trick off of what we must do
Pardon me, just left a message to the city
Words stuck between my teeth, so gritty
Pay him for each minute I'm seething
A Black girl mixed with a
Little bit of Sacagawea i pocket subpoenas
I swallow my pride and my ego
I wear my flaws on my sleeve
And my skin like a peacoat
I see someone like me ashamed to be
And honestly, I'm really really
I'm fed up wit' it
Try to send it up like a FedEx
I'm wondering what they sayin' next
Can't pretend to not hear it
It's your beauty, they can't have it
It's yours, they can't have it
I'm done with the struggle i
Wanna-I just wanna enjoy
My life now and maybe appreciate my skin
I woke up in this, I woke up in this
In my skin i can't wash it away
So you can't take it from me my brown skin
Oh, I can't wash it away
No, you can't take it from me
My skin, your skin, yeah!
Oh, I can't wash it away
No, you can't take it from me
Ooh, my skin, ooh, my skin, yeah!
This is something I was born wit', you know?
You can't buy this at a store, so hey
The lyrics to "My Skin" by Lizzo are about the journey of self-love and self-acceptance, particularly as it pertains to women, and the pride in one's identity and skin color. Lizzo reflects on the struggles she has endured on that journey while also celebrating the beauty of who she is, a Black woman. She acknowledges the societal pressures placed on women to conform to certain standards of beauty and the racism that Black people face, but asserts that she is done with the struggle and just wants to enjoy her life and appreciate her skin. She also emphasizes that one's identity and skin color are not something that can be bought and encourages others to recognize and love their own unique identities.
Line by Line Meaning
Learning to love yourself and
The process of learning to love yourself is a journey that every person, especially women, have to go through.
Like learning to love your body is like a
Loving yourself and loving your body are interconnected and deserve equal attention and effort.
Whole journey that I feel like every
I believe that the journey of learning self-love and body positivity is a long and challenging one that everyone should go through.
Person, but more specifically, women
Women tend to struggle more with self-love and body positivity in a society that places unrealistic beauty standards on them.
Have to go through so I feel like doing
To overcome these societal pressures, it's important to break through and conquer this journey of self-love and body positivity.
This is a good way to kinda break
Performing this song is a way for me to break through the societal pressures and finally love myself and my body.
Through and kinda seal the last chapter of
This song represents the final stage of my journey towards loving myself and my body.
The "learning to love" and just loving
This song marks the end of my journey of learning to love myself and my body and the beginning of simply loving myself for who I am.
Ooh, what's deeper than
What's more profound than
What's deeper than the darkest best
What's more profound than the deepest and best-kept secret.
Kept secret? Beneath the surface, we could
Secrets often run deep, and they can either bring us together or tear us apart.
Let it bring us together, or
We should allow our secrets and differences to unify us rather than divide us.
It could tear us apart, oh
If we allow our secrets and differences to divide us, it can lead to destructive outcomes.
I'm filled with it
I am full of love, compassion, and positivity.
I gotta love with no conditions
I have to love unconditionally, without any restrictions or limitations.
Though it's hard to re-envision
Even though it can be challenging to change our past perception, we must try to see ourselves and others in a new, more positive light.
Time and time again
Repeatedly, inside and outside of ourselves.
Even when, even when it didn't matter anymore
We have to learn to love ourselves even when others don't care or find us attractive anymore.
The most beautiful thing that you ever seen
The most beautiful thing we can witness.
Is even bigger than what we think it means
It is more significant than we realize, and it extends beyond physical appearance.
Reflections in my bloodstreams
My inner beauty and strength that run through my veins.
It's even bigger than
It has a much more profound meaning.
I woke up in this, I woke up in this
I was born in this body.
In my skin i can't wash it away
I can't wash away my skin, which is a crucial part of my identity and heritage.
So you can't take it from me my brown skin
My brown skin is a part of who I am, and no one can strip me of that identity.
Real world, big girl meets world
The challenges of the real world are especially hard for young women.
A crazy position, now your
Navigating this life is difficult, especially as a young woman.
Dreams is your mission, huh?
You must have goals and aspirations to fulfill your dreams and passions.
Staring in the mirror, realizing
Looking at ourselves and realizing.
Wish it worked
Wishing it could be different.
Now all I wish is for a chance
All I wish for is an opportunity.
To give my kids a Ford
To provide for my children.
I got a family tree that's
My family is valuable and important to me.
Worth praising the Lord
They are a blessing, and I am grateful.
Mama looking like the second
My mother is my role model and looks amazing, shining like the sun.
Whoo! Look at God
This is a blessing that only God can provide.
Sister like a soldier, hold it down
My sister is a fighter and always perseveres.
Southwest gon' hold it down, uh
I am proud of my roots and culture and will represent it with pride.
I love you, don't forget it
I love my family and want to make sure they know it.
You beautiful Black masterpiece!
You are a stunning masterpiece with your blackness shining through.
Boy, they don't make brothers like you
You are unique and irreplaceable, my brother.
Uh, make it happen with that Black girl magic
Black girls are magical and can do anything they set their minds to.
The hat trick off of what we must do
This is our hat trick, our act of triumph, from what we have to do.
Pardon me, just left a message to the city
Excuse me, I'm sending a message to my community.
Words stuck between my teeth, so gritty
The words I am about to say are truthful, raw, and powerful.
Pay him for each minute I'm seething
I will not let the anger that I feel on behalf of myself and my community go unnoticed.
A Black girl mixed with a
I am a black girl, but also have other cultural identities.
Little bit of Sacagawea i pocket subpoenas
I also have Native American heritage represented by the iconic Sacagawea and will use my voice to call attention to injustices.
I swallow my pride and my ego
I will set aside my pride and ego for the greater good.
I wear my flaws on my sleeve
I am not ashamed of my imperfections or differences and will proudly display them.
And my skin like a peacoat
My skin is like a warm coat that I wear with pride and joy.
I see someone like me ashamed to be
I see people that resemble me being ashamed of who they are.
And honestly, I'm really really
Honestly, I am extremely
I'm fed up wit' it
I'm tired of seeing people be ashamed of who they are and want to change it.
Try to send it up like a FedEx
I am trying to send a message of self-love to my community, much like how FedEx delivers messages.
I'm wondering what they sayin' next
I am curious about how my message will impact those around me.
Can't pretend to not hear it
I can't ignore the shame and judgement that people have for their bodies and skin.
It's your beauty, they can't have it
Your beauty and identity is unique to you and cannot be taken from you by anyone else.
It's yours, they can't have it
No one can take away your beauty and identity from you.
I'm done with the struggle i
I am finished with the battle of learning to love myself and my body.
Wanna-I just wanna enjoy
I just want to enjoy my life and appreciate who I am.
My life now and maybe appreciate my skin
I want to enjoy my life and celebrate my skin and identity.
Oh, I can't wash it away
My skin color and heritage are a permanent part of me.
No, you can't take it from me
No one can take away my identity and ethnicity from me.
Ooh, my skin, ooh, my skin, yeah!
My skin, my identity, who I am, yeah!
This is something I was born wit', you know?
My identity and my skin color are something that I was born with and cannot change.
You can't buy this at a store, so hey
You cannot purchase this in a store, this is what makes me unique, so hey!
Lyrics © STEFON TAYLOR PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MELISSA VIVIANE JEFFERSON, STEFON CHINA TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@alleyjohnson3658
When she says " I can't wash it away" hits me so hard. when I was a kid and at school I was bullied for my skin color they would tell me if I wash my skin hard enough maybe I would be as white as them and that stuck in my head for years hating my skin and now I love it
@NoisyHill_
💜💜💜
@nowitssovivid1273
😢 that's such a cruel thing to say to someone. I hope you know and feel how beautiful you are 💜
@jackielambton1800
You are beautiful just as you are xxxc
@drema1051
Keep on believing in yourself. You are beautiful, wonderful, amazing
@kateburke2620
This breaks my heart, I'm sorry you felt like that. As a girl, I thought anyone with brown skin was stunning. I adored people of colour.
@shamekagolphin7622
Lizzo is a role model and a black Queen , people will always try to put you down .it always because of your skin color, size,weight,well forget them .let your natural flaws and qualities flow
@sadiedixon2243
They arent even flaws, they are beautiful qualities
@jakariahmcgee9133
yasssssss
@ImMoonlily
Every day I wake up in my skin, it's covered in scars from having and nursing two children and it's getting older and more wrinkled every day. Rather than looking at it as a mark of pride, surviving accidents, surgery and illness, I hate it. Every pound, every new dimple, every wrinkle. This body that has taken care of me, through tragedy and joy alike, I've never really looked at as more than something I needed to mold, shape and try to cram into an image of someone else's perfection. I just realized how damned stupid I've been. I have a husband who adores me, two grown children that love me and a body that gets up every day and does the work of someone in their twenties when it's in its forties. Maybe it's time I quit cursing my body for what I think of as failures and start learning to love it for taking good care of me.