Beautiful

When you say, "hey, beautiful", you wonder why i look around
When you say you're a lucky man, you wonder why i wear a frown
Now, boy, don't misunderstand, i'm very happy that you're pleased
But we can't see eye to eye 'cause my eyes have never seen
A girl that's beautiful, a girl so wonderful, a girl deserving of a man who gives her love
Like you...

You ask me why i'm insecure, blame it on experience
I tie it all back to my mama, she said i wasn't worth a cent (not even a penny)
I heard i was ugly so often, thought it was my middle name
She said that my skin was too dark, i wore my color in shame
She said i'm so skinny i look sick, so i eaten til' i was ill
And now that i've gained a few pounds she said she wishes i was thin ("you let yourself go")
She said that my hair was too nappy i had to get it from my dad
So when i look in the mirror, all i see is what she said
That i'm not beautiful, i'm not wonderful, i'm not deserving of a man who gives me love
Like you...

You asked me what i wanna be, i told you when i was a child
My momma, she gave me a present, it was a little Barbie doll
She was so pretty, her eyes were bluer than the sunny skies
Her skin was so fair and her hair was a much finer grain than mine
I used to lay her by my pillow and all i'd do is stare
Attempting to imagine one day that i'd awake and would be her
You ask why i lie and why i have very little self esteem
But unless you fit in my shoes you'll probably never ever see
That i'm not beautiful, i'm not wonderful, i'm not deserving of a man who gives me love
Like you...