Why did I have to walk in like this? Why does being me feel so hard? Why do I have to spell my name twice just to get the bare minimum respect? I watch them move so easy like they never had to check themselves Mirror on the wall, they step right out already knowing who they are For them it’s nothing, no big deal For me it’s a knot I carry home One day, I wanna look straight back and not flinch at what I see in that frame I gotta be myself, let me be myself Say my name right, don’t make me repeat it I gotta be myself, let me be myself I’ve got a place in this room, I’m taking it I’m not asking for anything extra Just let me stand here, let me take it in In my own skin, in my own life I’m gonna be myself Every day I clock in to the same old fight Side-eye in the hallway, remarks at the door They keep trying to sort me into boxes like I’m something they can tag and store But I’m not their outline I’m not their punchline, not their guess I’m a woman in my own body and I’m done squeezing myself less They stand there like it’s automatic And I’m here picking myself up off the floor I’m one breath from saying it out loud I want the whole world to hear me now I gotta be myself, let me be myself Say my name right and don’t make me repeat it I gotta be myself, let me be myself I’ve got a place in this room, I’m taking it I’m not asking for anything extra Just let me stand here, let me take it in In my own skin, in my own life I’m gonna be myself If you knew what it took to get here all the small cuts I learned to hide You’d get why I keep moving why I won’t let anybody dull my shine I’m not asking for a miracle just the room to breathe and grow To meet myself without looking over my shoulder and finally say, “Here I go” I gotta be myself, let me be myself Say my name right, don’t make me repeat it I’m here now, I’m not backing up This is my skin, this is my life, I’m gonna be myself!
