Lyrics
I wore a ring, a ring that had worn me
I had a commitment (ring) that became burdensome
And oh, have I prayed my hands were still bare
I've wished that I hadn't made that commitment
I wore a smile, that did nothing for me
I put on a fake smile that didn't bring me joy
And oh, have I wondered
I've questioned the reason for keeping the fake smile
Why is it still there?
Questioning why the fake smile persists
I wore a rope, to climb up the ladder
Used a rope as a tool to climb the social ladder
And oh, have I prayed it'd spare me a fall
Hoped that using the rope would prevent a fall
I wore a smile, to make me feel better
Wore a smile to boost my mood
And oh, have I wondered
Questioning the purpose of wearing a fake smile
Why wear it at all?
Contemplating why wear the fake smile at all
I think it's 'bout time you quit paying in flowers
Time to stop receiving superficial apologies
I'm a grown woman now and I charge for my hours
Asserting independence and valuing time
I know we got messed up, but I ain't getting dressed up for you
Refusing to dress up for someone else's benefit
We ain't children no more
Emphasizing maturity, no longer children
I can't figure out what you're trying to forgive me
Confusion about the intentions behind forgiveness
We can cry it out, baby, or you can simply just leave me
Suggesting resolving issues or leaving without drama
I know I'm a mess-up, but you got to quit playing dress-up
Acknowledging personal flaws but rejecting pretense
With a grown-up girl
Emphasizing adulthood
I wore a heart, a heart nearly broken
Had a fragile heart and hoped it stays unchanged
And oh, have I prayed they'd leave it as is
Desiring that others leave the fragile heart alone
And I wore my name, I shall not be spoken
Claiming individuality, not allowing others to define
For, I am not here - to love and to please.
Rejecting societal expectations of love and pleasing
To laugh and to be
Expressing the contradictions in life
To hurt with no pain
Highlighting the paradox of hurting without pain
To smile with no joy
Not finding joy despite smiling
To cry with no sound.
Crying without producing any sound
What's in it for me?
Questioning the self-centered nature of existence
I think it's 'bout time you quit paying in flowers
Reiterating the need to stop accepting insincere apologies
I'm a grown woman now and I charge for my hours
Asserting self-worth and valuing time
I know we got messed up, but I ain't getting dressed up for you
Refusing to dress up for others, emphasizing maturity
We ain't children no more
Stating the end of childhood and the need for sincerity
I can't figure out what you're trying to forgive me
Uncertainty about the sincerity of forgiveness
We can cry it out, baby, or you can simply just leave me
Offering options to resolve issues or leave
I know I'm a mess-up, but you got to quit playing dress-up
Acknowledging personal flaws but rejecting pretense
With a grown-up girl
Emphasizing adulthood and self-respect
I wore a flag of unfitting colors
Wore a symbol (flag) that doesn't fit societal norms
And oh, have I prayed they'd flatter me more
Desiring validation for wearing the unconventional symbol
And yet we all wear it, we all bear with it - and we all wonder what for
Reflecting on the universal experience of wearing societal expectations
And yet we all find it, some more - some less blinded, by what it was before
Some people find societal expectations more easily than others
And then we all hide it, but at least we have tried - to wear it once more.
Despite challenges, attempting to wear societal expectations
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