India.Arie Follow

[Akon]

Uh-huh

See I can kinda recall

(Little ways back)

Small tryin' to ball

(Always been black)

And my hair I tried it all

(I even went flat)

Had a Gumby curly top and all the crap, now (ohhh)

Was tryin' to be (appreciated)

Nappy headed brothers never had (no ladies) (no ladies)

Then I Hit by the barber shop (real quick )

had the mini little (twist) and it drove them crazy (drove 'em crazyyy)

And then I couldn't get (no job)

Cause corporate wasn't hiring (no dreadlocks) (oh-no)

Then I thought about my dogs (on the block)

Kinda understand why they chose to (steal and rob) (uh-huh)

Was it the hair that (got me this far?) (uh-huh)

All these girls these (cribs these cars) (uh-huh)

Hate to say it but it (seems so flaw)

Success didn't come 'til I (cut it all off) (uh-huh)

[India.Arie]

Little girl with the press and curl

Age eight I got a Jheri curl

Thirteen then I got a relaxer

I was a source of so much laughter

Fifteen when it all broke off

Eighteen when I went all natural

February 2002 I

Went on and did what I had to do (oh)

Because it was time to change my life

To become the woman that I am inside

'97 dreadlocks all gone

I looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that

HEY...

[Chorus]

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your ex-pec-tations no no (heyy)

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am a soul that lives within

[India.Arie]

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

Got it on lock

Like Bob Marley

You can rock it straight

Like Oprah Winfrey

If its not what's on your head

It's what's underneath and say

HEY....

[Chorus]

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your ex-pec-tations no no (heyy)

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am a soul that lives within

[Akon]

Who cares if you don't like that

With nothin' to lose posted with the wave cap

When the cops tryin' to harass

Cause I got waves

Aint seen nothin' like that in all my days (noo...)

Man, you gotta change all these feelings

They be judging one another by their appearance

Yes, India I feel ya girl

Now ahead, talk to the rest of the world

Cause, cause, cause

[India.Arie][Bridge]

(oh, oh, oh)

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? nooo...

(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?

(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

I am expressing my creativity...

[India.Arie]

Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy

Took away her crowning glory

She promised God if she was to survive

She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh...

On national television

Her diamond eyes are sparkling

Bald headed like a full moon shining

Singing out to the whole wide world like

HEY...

[Chorus 2x's]

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am not your ex-pec-tations no no (heyy)

I am not my hair

I am not this skin

I am a soul that lives within