21

[Verse 1]
They tell her from a young age
That beauty is likes
And she believes them and tries with every pass
Her innocence they take and
She starts to wear makeup
And wear clothes she thinks they'll like
But nobody told her
She had a pretty great person inside

No one said "you're capable and loving"
"You're kind and you're smart"
"You got passion in your eyes and beauty in your smile"
"And you are a work of art"

[Chorus]
It took me 21 years to see it this clear
Their story's wrong and it's not worth the tears
I am worth something
And I'm done acting
And how many times did I never love
The person in the mirror, but that's who I was
I am so much more
And I finally surrendered the war

[Verse 2]
She finally gets to high school
But she doesn't look like they do
She's not outgoing
She writes these songs alone in her room and
She finally gets to college
And thinks boys will be so different there, but
She's disappointed by the way they talk and stare
Pretty soon, she hardly eats at all
She's sick every day, puking in the bathroom stall
And she wants to get better
'Cause she knows she's not who she sees in the mirror

[Chorus]
It took me 21 years to see it this clear
Their story's wrong and it's not worth the tears
I am worth something
And I'm done acting
And how many times did I never love
The person in the mirror, but that's who I was
I am so much more
And I finally surrendered the war

[Bridge]
It all got too heavy
And I wasn't healthy
I was weak to the bones too
I couldn't do this no more
And I thought about life
I gave to everyone else
And I'm still trying to convince myself
I deserve love as well

[Chorus]
It took me 21 years to see it this clear
Their story's wrong and it's not worth the tears
I am worth something
And I'm done acting
And how many times did I never love
The person in the mirror, but that's who I was
I am so much more
And I finally surrendered the war