I Am Not My Hair

Album: Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationship (2006)
Charted: 65 97
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  • See, I can kinda recall a lil' ways back
    Small, tryin' to ball, always been black
    And my hair, I tried it all I even went flat
    Had a lumpy curly top and all that crap, now
    Just tryin' to be appreciated
    Nappy headed brothers never had no ladies
    And I hit the barber shop real quick
    Had 'em give me lil' twist and it drove 'em crazy (crazy)
    Then I couldn't get no job
    'Cause corporate wouldn't hire no dreadlocks
    Then I thought about my dogs from the block
    Kinda understand why they chose to steal and rob
    Was it the hair that got me this far
    All these girls these cribs these cars?
    I hate to say it but it seem so flawed
    'Cause success didn't come till I cut it all off

    Little girl with the press and curl
    Age eight, I got a Jheri curl
    Thirteen, and 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, 2002
    I went on and did what I had to do
    Because it was time to change my life
    To become the woman that I am inside
    Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone
    I looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that

    Hey (hey)
    I am not my hair
    I am not this skin
    I am not your expectations, no (hey)
    I am not my hair
    I am not this skin
    I am the soul that lives within

    Good hair means curls and waves (no)
    Bad hair means you look like a slave (no)
    At the turn of the century
    It's 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 it's not what's on your head, it's what's underneath, and say

    Hey (hey)
    I am not my hair
    I am not this skin
    I am not your expectations, no (hey)
    I am not my hair
    I am not this skin
    I am the soul that lives within

    Who cares if you don't like that?
    With nothin' to lose, postin' with the wave cap
    And the cops wanna harass 'cause I got waves
    Ain't see nothin' like that in all my days
    Man, you gotta change all these feelings
    Steady judging one another by their appearance
    Yes, India, I feel ya, girl
    Now go ahead, talk to the rest of the world 'cause

    (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? Oh
    (Whoa, whoa, whoa)
    Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
    (Whoa, whoa, whoa)
    I am expressing my creativity
    (Whoa, whoa, whoa)

    Breast cancer and chemotherapy
    Took away her crownin' glory
    She promised God if she was to survive
    She would enjoy every day of her life, oh
    On national television
    Her diamond eyes are sparkling
    Bald-headed like a full moon shining
    Singing out to the whole wide world like, hey

    Hey (hey)
    I am not my hair
    I am not this skin
    I am not your expectations, no (hey)
    I am not my hair
    I am not this skin
    I am the soul that lives within

    Hey (hey)
    I am not my hair
    I am not this skin
    I am not your expectations, no (hey)
    I am not my hair
    I am not this skin
    I am the soul that lives within Writer/s: Aliaune Thiam, Andrew Ramsey, India Arie Simpson, Shannon Sanders
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

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