Pretty Hurts by Beyoncé

Artist: Beyoncé

Genre: Pop

Length: 4:17

A frank and very personal take on what beauty is, the opening track of Beyoncé’s groundbreaking self-titled album offers the very first point of social relevancy in the record: perfection and the impossible standard of beauty set in society is corrupting the nation. We all try so hard to reach that singular, narrow-minded idea of “perfection” despite the fact that beauty itself is subjective. Directed by Melina Matsoukas, the first video in the so-called “visual album” has Bey playing a beau...

Pretty Hurts lyrics

"Ms. Third Ward, your first question
What is your aspiration in life?"
"Oh, my aspiration in life would be
To be happy"
Mama said, "you're a pretty girl"
What's in your head, it doesn't matter
Brush your hair, fix your teeth
What you wear is all that matters
Just another stage
Pageant the pain away
This time I'm gonna take the crown
Without falling down, down, down
Pretty hurts
We shine the light on whatever's worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation
Pretty hurts, pretty hurts
Pretty hurts
We shine the light on whatever's worst
You're tryna fix something
But you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs a surgery
Blonder hair, flat chest
TV says, "bigger is better"
South beach, sugar free
Vogue says, "thinner is better"
Just another stage
Pageant the pain away
This time I'm gonna take the crown
Without falling down, down, down
Pretty hurts
We shine the light on whatever's worst
Perfection is a disease of a nation
Pretty hurts, pretty hurts (Pretty hurts)
Pretty hurts (Pretty hurts)
We shine the light on whatever's worst
You're tryna fix something
But you can't fix what you can't see
It's the soul that needs a surgery
Ain't got no doctor, or pill that can take the pain away
The pain's inside, and nobody frees you from your body
It's the soul, it's the soul that needs surgery
It's my soul that needs surgery
Plastic smiles and denial can only take you so far
Then you break when the fake facade leaves you in the dark
You left with shattered mirrors
And the shards of a beautiful past
Pretty hurts (Pretty hurts, pretty hurts)
We shine the light on whatever's worst (Pretty hurts)
Perfection is a disease of a nation
Pretty hurts, pretty hurts (Pretty hurts)
Pretty hurts (Pretty hurts)
We shine the light on whatever's worst
You're tryna fix something
But you can't fix what you can't see (Pretty hurts)
It's the soul that needs a surgery
When you're alone all by yourself
When you're lying in your bed
Reflection stares right into you
Are you happy with yourself?
Stripped away the masquerade
The illusion has been shed
Are you happy with yourself?
Are you happy with yourself?
Yeah, yes
Ah, ah

More songs by Beyoncé