I Am Not My Hair lyrics by India Arie - original song full text. Official I Am Not My Hair lyrics, 2025 version | LyricsMode.com
Request & respond explanations
  • Don't understand the meaning of the song?
  • Highlight lyrics and request an explanation.
  • Click on highlighted lyrics to explain.
India Arie – I Am Not My Hair lyrics
[Talking:]
Is that India. Arie? What happened to her hair? Ha ha ha ha ha
Dat dad a dat da [4x] Dad a ooh

[Verse:]
Little girl with the press and curl
Age eight I got a Jheri curl
Thirteen I got a relaxer
I was a source of so much laughter
At fifteen when it all broke off
Eighteen and went all natural
February two thousand and two
I went and did
What I had to do
Because it was time to change my life
To become the women that I am inside
Ninety-seven dreadlock 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 expectations no no
I am not my hair
I ma not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

[Talking:]
What'd she do to her hair? I don't know it look crazy
I like it. I might do that.
Umm I wouldn't go that far. I know.. Ha ha ha ha

[Verse 2:]
Good hair means curls and waves
Bad hair means you look like a slave
At the turn of the century
Its time for us to redefine who we be
You can shave it off
Like a South African beauty
Or get in on lock
Like Bob Marley
You can rock it straight
Like Oprah Winfrey
If it's not what's on your head
Its what's underneath and say hey....

[Chorus:]

[Bridge:]
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
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? Oooh
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity?
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)
I am expressing my creativity..
(Whoa, whoa, whoa)

[Verse 3:]
Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy
Took away her crown and 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]

[Ad lib]
If I wanna shave it close
Or if I wanna rock locks
That don't take a bit away
From the soul that I got
Dat da da dat da [4x]
If I wanna where it braided
All down my back
I don't see what wrong with that
Dat da da dat da [4x]

[Talking:]
Is that India. Arie?
Ooh look she cut her hair!
I like that, it's kinda phat
I don't know if I could do it.
But it looks sharp, it looks nice on her
She got a nice shaped head
She got an apple head
I know right?
It's perfect.
×

[Talking:] Is that India. Arie? What happened to her hair? Ha ha ha ha ha Dat dad a dat da [4x] Dad a ooh [Verse:] Little girl with the press and curl Age eight I got a Jheri curl Thirteen I got a relaxer I was a source of so much laughter At fifteen when it all broke off Eighteen and went all natural February two thousand and two I went and did What I had to do Because it was time to change my life To become the women that I am inside Ninety-seven dreadlock 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 expectations no no I am not my hair I ma not this skin I am a soul that lives within [Talking:] What'd she do to her hair? I don't know it look crazy I like it. I might do that. Umm I wouldn't go that far. I know.. Ha ha ha ha [Verse 2:] Good hair means curls and waves Bad hair means you look like a slave At the turn of the century Its time for us to redefine who we be You can shave it off Like a South African beauty Or get in on lock Like Bob Marley You can rock it straight Like Oprah Winfrey If it's not what's on your head Its what's underneath and say hey.... [Chorus:] [Bridge:] (Whoa, whoa, whoa) 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? Oooh (Whoa, whoa, whoa) Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity? (Whoa, whoa, whoa) I am expressing my creativity.. (Whoa, whoa, whoa) [Verse 3:] Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy Took away her crown and 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] [Ad lib] If I wanna shave it close Or if I wanna rock locks That don't take a bit away From the soul that I got Dat da da dat da [4x] If I wanna where it braided All down my back I don't see what wrong with that Dat da da dat da [4x] [Talking:] Is that India. Arie? Ooh look she cut her hair! I like that, it's kinda phat I don't know if I could do it. But it looks sharp, it looks nice on her She got a nice shaped head She got an apple head I know right? It's perfect. Explain Request ×



Lyrics taken from /lyrics/i/india_arie/i_am_not_my_hair.html

  • Email
  • Correct
Songwriters: Aliaune Thiam, Andrew Ramsey, India Arie Simpson, Shannon Sanders
I Am Not My Hair lyrics © BMG Rights Management, jolany, Songtrust Ave, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
0

I Am Not My Hair meanings

Write about your feelings and thoughts about I Am Not My Hair

Know what this song is about? Does it mean anything special hidden between the lines to you? Share your meaning with community, make it interesting and valuable. Make sure you've read our simple tips.
U
Min 50 words
Not bad
Good
Awesome!

Post meanings

U
Min 50 words
Not bad
Good
Awesome!

official video

India.Arie - I Am Not My Hair ft. Akon

Featured lyrics

0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z