I Am Not My Hair

[plzgrow]

Ohh my I know somewhere in this song someone can relate cuz I sure know i can

India.Arie - I Am Not My Hair



[Talking:]
Is that India.Arie? What happened to her hair? Ha ha ha ha ha
Dat dad a dat da [4x] Dad a ooh

[Verse 1]
Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
At fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and went all natural
February two thousand and two
I went and did
What I had to do
Because it was time to change my life
To become the women that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlock all gone
I looked in the mirror
For the first time and saw that HEY....

[Chorus]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I ma not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

[Talking:]
What'd she do to her hair? I don't know it look crazy
I like it. I might do that.
Umm I wouldn't go that far. I know .. ha ha ha ha

[Verse 2]
Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
Its time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off
Like a South African beauty
Or get in on lock
Like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight
Like Oprah Winfrey
If its not what's on your head
Its what's underneath and say HEY....

[Chorus]

[Bridge]
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Oooh
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am expressing my creativity..
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

[Verse 3]
Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy
Took away her crown and glory
She promised God if she was to survive
She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh
On national television
Her diamond eyes are sparkling
Bald headed like a full moon shining
Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY...

[Chorus 2x]

[Ad lib]
If I wanna shave it close
Or if I wanna rock locks
That don't take a bit away
From the soul that I got
Dat da da dat da [4x]
If I wanna where it braided
All down my back
I don't see what wrong with that
Dat da da dat da [4x]

[Talking:]
Is that India.Arie?
Ooh look she cut her hair!
I like that, its kinda PHAT
I don't know if I could do it.
But it looks sharp, it looks nice on her
She got a nice shaped head
She got an apple head
I know right?
It's perfect.

 

[Keen]

Ohh my I know somewhere in this song someone can relate cuz I sure know i can

India.Arie - I Am Not My Hair


[Chorus]
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I ma not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

I can't relate to it. If I didn't think my hair and skin wasn't part of who I am, I wouldn't be here. I do feel like this song fits India Arie's persona. This song is in line with her previous it "average girl".

 

[FlowerHair]

Who is she singing about in verse 3? Is it some American celebrity?

I think even for India Arie, her hair or lack of hair represents who she is, and hair styles do say something about who we are - hair texture doesn't.

I love her music though, I'll definately buy this next album!

 

[miracle]

Who is she singing about in verse 3? Is it some American celebrity?

I think even for India Arie, her hair or lack of hair represents who she is, and hair styles do say something about who we are - hair texture doesn't.

I love her music though, I'll definately buy this next album!

I've heard that it was a reference to Melissa Etheridge. I don't know how true that is, though. So don't quote me.

 

[cocosweet]

I've heard that it was a reference to Melissa Etheridge. I don't know how true that is, though. So don't quote me.

Yep. She performed at the Grammy's last year sporting a bald head. She'd been battling breast cancer. She rocked it.

 

[MysTori]

I don't think she is discounting her hair and skin. I think she's saying that we should focus on the person as a whole, spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally. All parts of you deserve equal attention and no one thing should be used to completely define who you are. You are more than your hair, more than the color of your skin. Those are only a few of pieces to the puzzle. I feel her song. That's just my opinion.

 

[ClassicChic]

I don't think she is discounting her hair and skin. I think she's saying that we should focus on the person as a whole, spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally. All parts of you deserve equal attention and no one thing should be used to completely define who you are. You are more than your hair, more than the color of your skin. Those are only a few of pieces to the puzzle. I feel her song. That's just my opinion.

I feel exactly how you feel. Hair, skin does not define you.....this is the message I get.

 

[Super_Hero_Girl]

I don't think she is discounting her hair and skin. I think she's saying that we should focus on the person as a whole, spiritually, mentally, physically, emotionally. All parts of you deserve equal attention and no one thing should be used to completely define who you are. You are more than your hair, more than the color of your skin. Those are only a few of pieces to the puzzle. I feel her song. That's just my opinion.

Exactly and sometimes it's hard for people to look past those things, and she's saying that she is a lot more than that. I like the song.