They tell her from a young age
That beauty is looks and
And she believes them and tries her very best
Her innocence they take
And she starts to wear makeup
And wear clothes she thinks they'll like
But nobody told her
She has 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

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 that I never loved
The person in the mirror, but that's who I was
I am so much more
And I finally surrendered the war

She finally gets to high school
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

It took me 21 years to see it this clear
That their story wrong
And it's not worth the tears
I am worth something
And I'm done acting

And how many times that 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

It all got too heavy
And I wasn't healthy
I was weak to the bones
Till I couldn't do this no more

And I thought about love
I gave to everyone else
And I'm still trying to convince myself
I deserve love as well

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 loved
The person in the mirror, but that's who I was
I am so much more
And I finally surrendered the war