pretty isn’t pretty
Olivia Rodrigo Lyrics


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Bought a bunch of makeup, tryna cover up my face
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 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 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-

Overall Meaning

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
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Comments from YouTube:

@ayahajslema

"I started to skip lunch, stopped eatin' cake on birthdays" hits so hard

@yuko_noha

Litteraly the most underrated song on the album. Justice for pretty isn't pretty !!!!!

@NicMushro0m

YESS

@hellstarvevo

is teenage dream

@bayookissed

@@hellstarvevo FR

@DrewPches

Teenage Dream too

@ALSHoaxMovies

Yes, and teenage dreams, too, like both of them are so underrated

6 More Replies...

@momentsofloveromantic

There's something in this song that I can't even explain. The vibe, the lyrics, the feelings, overall. The intro feels like you're on the 80's era

@wandamaximoff6403

Cauz that's the point of her new album, it's giving 80s or early 20s....vintage

@RSpark

Yes and i love it❀ oli slayed and I covered many of Oli’s songs including this one would love if you checked it out, thx!

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