The song conveys a powerful message about the harmful effects of society's beauty standards and the importance of self-acceptance and self-worth beyond physical appearance. "pretty isn't pretty" prompts listeners to question these superficial expectations and recognize the value in embracing their authentic selves rather than adhering to unrealistic ideals.
pretty isn’t pretty
Olivia Rodrigo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I started to skip lunch, stopped eatin' cake on birthdays
I bought a new prescription to try and stay calm
'Cause there's always somethin' missin'
There's always somethin' in the mirror that I think looks wrong
When pretty isn't pretty enough, what do you do?
And everybody's keepin' it up, so you think it's you
I could try every lipstick in every shade
But I'd always feel the same
'Cause pretty isn't pretty enough anyways
You can win the battle, but you'll never win the war
You fix the things you hated, and you'd still feel so insecure
And I try to ignore it, but it's everythin' I see
It's on the poster on the wall, it's in the shitty magazines
It's in my phone, it's in my head, it's in the boys I bring to bed
It's all around, it's all the time, I don't know why I even try
When pretty isn't pretty enough, what do you do?
And everybody's keepin' it up, so you think it's you
I could change up my body and change up my face
I could try every lipstick in every shade
But I'd always feel the same
'Cause pretty isn't pretty enough
And I bought all the clothes that they told me to buy
I chased some dumb ideal my whole fucking life
And none of it matters, and none of it ends
You just feel like shit over and over again
No, it'll never change
Pretty isn't pretty enough, mmm
Everybody's keepin' it up, oh
Pretty isn't pretty enough
But pretty isn't-
In Olivia Rodrigo's song "pretty isn't pretty," she explores the theme of societal pressure and the constant struggle to meet unrealistic beauty standards. The lyrics depict the singer's journey of trying to enhance her appearance through makeup, dieting, and even medication to feel more confident and accepted. However, despite all her efforts, she still feels a deep sense of dissatisfaction with her looks.
The opening lines of the song highlight the singer's attempt to use makeup to hide her insecurities. She talks about skipping meals and denying herself pleasures like eating cake on birthdays to maintain an acceptable body image. The mention of buying a new prescription reflects the pressure to conform to societal norms and find a sense of calm amidst the constant scrutiny she faces.
The chorus conveys the frustration and self-doubt that stem from the unattainable standards set by society. The repetition of "pretty isn't pretty enough" emphasizes the never-ending struggle to meet these ideals. The singer feels trapped in a cycle of trying to change her body and appearance through various means, but she always ends up feeling the same – inadequate and insecure.
The second verse delves deeper into the sources of the singer's insecurities. She describes how the pressure to be pretty is ubiquitous in her surroundings, from posters and magazines to her phone and her relationships. This constant exposure makes it hard for her to escape feelings of self-doubt, no matter how hard she tries to ignore them.
In the bridge, the lyrics take a more reflective tone, with the singer realizing that all the efforts to conform and meet societal expectations have been in vain. She acknowledges that she has followed the recommendations, purchased the suggested clothing, and chased an ideal her entire life, but none of it has brought her fulfillment or happiness. The repetition of feeling "like shit over and over again" emphasizes the continuous and recurring nature of these negative emotions.
Ultimately, "pretty isn't pretty" is a powerful commentary on the damaging effects of societal beauty standards and the relentless pursuit of an unattainable ideal. Rodrigo's lyrics highlight the pressure people, particularly young women, face to constantly alter their appearance and the toll it can take on their mental and emotional well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
Bought a bunch of makeup
I purchased a large quantity of cosmetics
Tryna' cover up my face
Attempting to conceal my facial features
I started to skip lunch
I began to abstain from eating midday meals
Stopped eatin' cake on birthdays
Ceased consuming cake during celebratory occasions
Bought a new prescription
Acquired a fresh medication
To try and stay calm
In an effort to maintain composure
'Cause there's always something missin'
Because there is consistently an absence
There's always something in the mirror that I think looks wrong
There is perpetually a flaw in my reflection that I find displeasing
When pretty isn't pretty enough
In situations where beauty fails to satisfy
What do you do?
How do you proceed?
And everybody's keepin' it up
And everyone is maintaining appearances
So you think it's you
Consequently, you believe the issue lies with yourself
I could change up my body and change up my face
I have the option to alter my physique and modify my facial features
I could try every lipstick in every shade
I could experiment with every possible hue of lipstick
But I always feel the same
Yet, I consistently experience the same emotions
'Cause pretty isn't pretty enough anyways
Because beauty ultimately falls short regardless
You can win the battle
You may emerge victorious in a specific conflict
But you'll never win the war
However, you can never fully triumph in the overall struggle
You fix the things you hated
You rectify the aspects you have despised
And you'd still feel so insecure
Yet, you would still experience profound self-doubt
And I try to ignore it, but it's everything I see
I attempt to overlook it, but it pervades my entire field of vision
It's on the poster on the wall, it's in the shitty magazines
It is present on the wall poster and within the low-quality magazines
It's in my phone, it's in my head, it's in the boys I bring to bed
It exists on my phone, it occupies my thoughts, and it influences the partners I intimately engage with
It's all around, it's all the time and I don't know why I even try
It surrounds me constantly, persistently, and I am uncertain why I bother making an effort
And I bought all the clothes that they told me to buy
I acquired every garment that they instructed me to purchase
I chased some dumb ideal my whole fucking life
I pursued a foolish notion throughout my entire existence
And none of it matters and none of it ends
Yet, none of it holds significance and none of it concludes
You just feel like shit over and over again
You simply experience recurrent feelings of misery
No, it'll never change
No, it will never transform
Pretty isn't pretty enough
Beauty fails to satisfy
Everybody's keepin' it up
Everyone is diligently maintaining appearances
Pretty isn't pretty enough
Beauty falls short
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Amy Allen, Daniel Nigro, Olivia Rodrigo
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cinnobelle
To every girl reading this,
Don’t compare yourself to anybody they aren’t you.
You’re unique in your own person.
You’re really pretty so don’t say that you aren’t because you are.
If anybody ever calls you ugly, you are NOT ugly they are mad jealous.
And just to point out social media isn’t real it’s fake.
Beauty standards are made to hate yourself.
And some influencers edit their body on social media to make young girls insecure so don’t believe it
You’re beautiful ml
Believe me
💞
@chaeslynn
i love how her songs always manage to capture what it feels like to be a teenage girl 💜
@llia_pear
Right. Its like she lives in my brain
@namantherockstar
Olivia inspires me.. My parents said if i get 50K followers They'd buy me a professional camera for recording..begging u guys , literally
Begging..
@ever-lh5ot
Not just girls 💜
@labyrinth123
not just 'teenage' girls and also not just girls
@Little_miss_edits1
We should make our parents here these maybe they will finally understand
@lucymosca9339
jealousy jealousy, and then this masterpiece. you can see her growth and i will forever love both of these songs !! 💜💜
@rachelelizabeth346
THIS THIS THIS MORE THAN ANYTHING ON SOUR I RELATED TO JEALOUSY JEALOUSY MORE THAN ANY SONG
@eternallyhappy247
Frr
@3avril_.manacordad974
Sameeee ❤❤❤❤❤