Unpretty
TLC Lyrics

I wish I could tie you up in my shoes
I wish you could be in my place and experience my insecurities and fears.

Make you feel unpretty too
I want you to understand how your words and actions can make me feel inferior and insecure.

I was told I was beautiful
People have complimented me on my appearance, but I am questioning the true meaning of beauty and whether it's just a superficial standard.

But what does that mean to you?
Even though people may see me as beautiful, your opinion and validation matter more to me than anyone else's.

Look into the mirror who's inside there
Take a moment to reflect and focus on who you are beyond your physical appearance.

The one with the long hair
My long hair is just an external feature, and it doesn't define who I am as a person.

Same old me again today, yeah
Even though I may try different things to satisfy your expectations, I am still the same person inside.

My outsides look cool
From the outside, I may seem put together and confident.

My insides are blue
But on the inside, I am struggling with sadness and insecurity.

Every time I think I'm through
Whenever I feel like I've overcome my insecurities or accepted myself, your words or actions bring them back up again.

It's because of you
Your behavior and expectations are causing me to doubt myself and feel unpretty.

I've tried different ways
I've attempted to change myself in different ways to please you and be accepted by society's standards of beauty.

But it's all the same
No matter how much I change myself or try to fit in, I'm still feeling insecure and unpretty.

At the end of the day
After everything, I'm left with myself and my own thoughts and feelings.

I have myself to blame
I realize that it's not entirely your fault that I feel unpretty, and I need to take responsibility for my own self-worth.

Can't believe I'm trippin', yeah
I'm surprised and disappointed in myself for getting caught up in my insecurities and allowing myself to feel unpretty.

You can buy your hair if it won't grow
Society offers cosmetic solutions to people's insecurities, like buying wigs or extensions if you're unhappy with your natural hair.

You can fix your nose if he says so
People may feel pressured to change their physical appearance to fit their partner's desires or societal standards of beauty.

You can buy all the make-up that MAC can make
Cosmetics companies exploit people's insecurities by creating products that promise to enhance their appearance and make them feel beautiful.

But if you can't look inside you
If you can't find the confidence and self-love within yourself, no external changes will truly make you feel beautiful or pretty.

Find out who am I to
Discover who you are as an individual, beyond societal expectations or your partner's desires.

Be in the position to make me feel so
Realize that your actions and words can have a powerful impact on someone's self-worth and confidence.

Damn unpretty
Feeling insecure and unpretty can be emotionally taxing and challenging to overcome.

Yeah, I'll make you feel unpretty too
I want you to experience the same insecurities and feelings of inadequacy that I do, so you can understand how your words and actions affect me.

Never insecure until I met you
Before meeting you, I never questioned my self-worth or felt insecure about my appearance.

Now I'm bein' stupid
I realize that my obsession with my appearance and self-doubt is irrational and unproductive.

I used to be so cute to me
Before feeling pressured to fit in with societal standards, I used to feel confident and beautiful.

Just a little bit skinny
I used to equate beauty with a narrow definition of physical perfection, like being thin.

Why do I look to all these things
I question why I put so much value on external factors that don't define who I am as a person.

To keep you happy?
I realize that my attempts to change myself are futile, and I shouldn't base my self-worth on pleasing someone else.

Maybe get rid of you and then I'll get back to me (hey)
I'm considering whether ending our relationship would ultimately be better for my sense of self-worth and confidence.

I'll make you feel unpretty
I want you to experience the same insecurity and self-doubt that I do, to truly understand how your actions affect me.

Oh-whoa, oh-oh-whoa
Vocalization

Oh-whoa, oh-oh-whoa-oh
Vocalization