I Feel Pretty
Maria and Girls Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I feel pretty
Oh, so pretty
I feel pretty and witty and bright!
And I pity
Any girl who isn't me tonight

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
She isn't in love
She's merely insane

It must be the heat
Or some rare disease
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
Well-bred and mature
And out of her mind!

I feel pretty
Oh, so pretty
That the city should give me its key
A committee
Should be organized to honor me

La la la la

I feel dizzy
I feel sunny
I feel fizzy and funny and fine
And so pretty
Miss America can just resign!

La la la la

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!

I feel stunning
And entrancing
Feel like running and dancing for joy




For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "I Feel Pretty" from the musical West Side Story, sung by Maria and the Girls, are a testament to the power of self-confidence. The song is a celebration of Maria's newfound sense of self-worth and beauty after meeting Tony. The opening lines "I feel pretty, oh so pretty" establish the tone of the song as upbeat and optimistic. Maria feels not just pretty but also witty and bright, a far cry from where she was at the beginning of the show.


The lyrics also express a sense of superiority over other girls, with Maria saying that she pities any girl who isn't her tonight. This demonstrates her newfound confidence and a shift in her perspective on herself. She now sees herself as desirable and envied by others. The songs also references the popular culture at that time with references like "Miss America can just resign," which shows how much importance people of that time placed on beauty.


The song is catchy and memorable, and it serves as a turning point for Maria's character. She goes from a shy and reserved girl to someone who is confident and self-assured. This shift is also reflected in her style, as she wears a new dress and has her hair styled in a more modern way, symbolizing her transformation. "I Feel Pretty" is a testament to the transformative power of self-confidence and the importance of embracing one's true self.


Line by Line Meaning

I feel pretty
I feel beautiful and attractive


Oh, so pretty
I feel extremely beautiful, like never before


I feel pretty and witty and bright!
I feel not only beautiful but also intelligent and optimistic


And I pity
It makes me feel sorry for


Any girl who isn't me tonight
I believe that no other girl is as beautiful as I am tonight


I feel charming
I feel likable and delightful


Oh, so charming
I feel extremely likable, in a way that surprises me


It's alarming how charming I feel!
I am surprised by how likable I feel, as if it were a danger or a warning sign


And so pretty
I continue to feel very beautiful


That I hardly can believe I'm real
I can't believe I am really this beautiful and charming


See the pretty girl in that mirror there
I am looking at myself in the mirror and admiring how beautiful I look


Who can that attractive girl be?
I am wondering who this attractive girl can be, not recognizing myself at first


Such a pretty face
I have a very beautiful and attractive face


Such a pretty dress
I am wearing a beautiful and attractive dress


Such a pretty smile
I have a very beautiful and attractive smile


Such a pretty me!
Everything about me looks beautiful and attractive


I feel stunning
I feel extremely beautiful and attractive


And entrancing
I feel enchanting and captivating


Feel like running and dancing for joy
I am so happy and excited that I feel like doing physical activities (running and dancing)


For I'm loved
Someone loves me


By a pretty wonderful boy!
I am loved by a very attractive and wonderful boy




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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I Feel Pretty (From "West Side Story")
Lyrics:

I feel pretty
Oh, so pretty
I feel pretty and witty and bright
And I pity
Any girl who isn't me tonight

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
She isn't in love
She's merely insane

It must be the heat
Or some rare disease
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
Well-bred and mature
And out of her mind

I feel pretty
Oh, so pretty
That the city should give me its key
A committee
Should be organized to honor me

I feel dizzy
I feel sunny
I feel fizzy and funny and fine
And so pretty
Miss America can just resign

See the pretty girl in that mirror there?
What mirror where?

Who can that attractive girl be?
Which? What? Where? Who?

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

(2022/04/08 13:08)



@Zolwena

And here are the lyrics (for those that like to compare old to new) from 1957.
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
GIRLS
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
She isn't in love
She's merely insane
It must be the heat
Or some rare disease
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
Well-bred and mature
And out of her mind!
Miss America, Miss America, speech!
Miss America, bravo, speech!
MARIA
I feel pretty
Oh so pretty
That the city should give me its key
A committee
Should be organized to honour me
I feel dizzy
I feel sunny
I feel fizzy and funny and fine
And so pretty
Miss America can just resign
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!
MARIA & GIRLS
I feel stunning
And entrancing
Feel like running and dancing for joy
For I'm loved
By a pretty wonderful boy



All comments from YouTube:

@seasalt9289

I love how she sings this song with a Puerto Rican accent. The trill of the r in words like “attractive” is so satisfying!

@nickkostopoulos8127

Rachel Zegler should’ve been nominated for an Oscar, and in my heart, she won one for the way she growls the line, “Miss America can just resign!”

@joewhitehead3

I love the way she sang that as well

@salscandura6059

@Joe Whitehead It's a heart breakingly lovely song.

@caseygreyson4178

I don’t like to be one of those people who says “the Oscars are rigged!” But the fact that she won the Golden Globe for best actress and didn’t even get a NOMINATION, I think says a lot.

@laryrumiantzeff

Agreed.

@arianawinters5197

No, she should not

12 More Replies...

@maraudersarebest6806

why are people acting like the main girl murdered someone… the amount of hate she is getting is overdramatic

@kyleg3418

You mean like the way people react when their culture is shit on?

@LaurenLaass

@@kyleg3418that’s not her fault. The director of Snow White asked her to be in the movie and she agreed. People are unreasonably upset when there are actual horrible people that aren’t getting the level of hate that she is.

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