pretty isn’t pretty by Olivia Rodrigo Lyrics Meaning – A Deep Dive Into Society’s Unattainable Beauty Standards

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Olivia Rodrigo's pretty isn’t pretty at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Bought a bunch of makeup, tryna cover up my face
I started to skip lunch, stopped eatin’ cake on birthdays
I bought a new prescription to try and stay calm
‘Cause there’s always somethin’ missin’
There’s always somethin’ in the mirror that I think looks wrong

When pretty isn’t pretty enough, what do you do?
And everybody’s keepin’ it up, so you think it’s you
I could change up my body and change up my face
I could try every lipstick in every shade
But I’d always feel the same
‘Cause pretty isn’t pretty enough anyways

You can win the battle, but you’ll never win the war
You fix the things you hated, and you’d still feel so insecure
And I try to ignore it, but it’s everythin’ I see
It’s on the poster on the wall, it’s in the shitty magazines
It’s in my phone, it’s in my head, it’s in the boys I bring to bed
It’s all around, it’s all the time, I don’t know why I even try

When pretty isn’t pretty enough, what do you do?
And everybody’s keepin’ it up, so you think it’s you
I could change up my body and change up my face
I could try every lipstick in every shade
But I’d always feel the same
‘Cause pretty isn’t pretty enough

And I bought all the clothes that they told me to buy
I chased some dumb ideal my whole fucking life
And none of it matters, and none of it ends
You just feel like shit over and over again

No, it’ll never change
Pretty isn’t pretty enough, mmm
Everybody’s keepin’ it up, oh
Pretty isn’t pretty enough
But pretty isn’t-

In a world where the pursuit of physical perfection has become a societal norm, Olivia Rodrigo’s poignant single ‘pretty isn’t pretty’ strikes a resonant chord. With heartfelt lyrics wrapped in a melody that is both haunting and relatable, Rodrigo delivers a thought-provoking message on the futility of chasing an ever-moving target of beauty.

Beneath the veneer of polished beats and catchy tunes, Rodrigo’s lyrics offer a raw and introspective examination of self-esteem, identity, and the crushing weight of beauty ideals. Listen closely, and you’ll hear the voice of a generation questioning the price of prettiness in a landscape cluttered with impossible expectations.

The Vanity Paradox: When Pretty Doesn’t Cut It

Rodrigo’s lyrics strike at the heart of a cultural paradox, one that equates prettiness with worth yet relentlessly informs us that it’s never enough. Buying makeup or skipping meals becomes a manifestation of an internal conflict—a battle between self-acceptance and the urge to conform. The cascading pressures to be flawless trap us in a Sisyphean cycle of dissatisfaction, each adjustment revealing another imperfection, subtly underscoring that the struggle is both pervasive and deeply internalized.

This war with one’s self-image is portrayed as a futile one. Rodrigo taps into the collective frustration that comes with trying to win a war against an enemy that shifts shape with every new fashion trend or beauty standard. It’s about the young and the old, the one’s fresh on the dating scene, and even those who’ve stepped out of the limelight, all united by a single, insidious notion: the existential inadequacy felt when ‘pretty isn’t pretty enough.’

The Cacophony of Perfection: How Culture Feeds Insecurity

Rodrigo’s lyrics give form to the constant barrage of messages that bombard individuals about their looks. From the ‘poster on the wall’ to the ‘shitty magazines’, the indictment is clear: culture is suffused with narrow, toxic ideals of beauty that leave deep psychological scars. The reference to these ubiquitous symbols of ‘perfection’ paints a picture of an unrelenting siege upon self-esteem, leaving one to wage a lonely battle against an onslaught of glossy, retouched imagery.

She doesn’t stop there; her honesty extends to the intimate and personal spaces, ‘the boys I bring to bed’. This startling admission links body image to sexual intimacy, suggesting that our own sense of prettiness, or lack thereof, intrudes upon our most private moments, affecting how we connect with others and experience desire and love.

A Spectrum of Discontent: Lipsticks and Unchanging Feelings

The use of ‘every lipstick in every shade’ as metaphor captures the essence of the song. It’s not about the makeup itself but the endless experimentation and adaptation in the pursuit of a happiness that never comes. Rodrigo echoes the sentiment of countless individuals who have realized that outward transformations do nothing to quell the internal chorus of self-doubt.

Here, Rodrigo touches upon the core irony that even in the act of creative expression—something as personal as choosing a shade of lipstick—one can become ensnared by the belief that self-worth is tied to external validation. Each application is both an act of hope and a sure step toward another disappointment, emphasizing the misalignment between exterior changes and internal satisfaction.

Unveiling the Hidden Meaning: It’s Not About You, It’s About All of Us

Delving beneath the surface of Rodrigo’s vivid lyrics, there lies an underlying current: the communal nature of this struggle. The words ‘everybody’s keepin’ it up, so you think it’s you’ offer a potent realization that draws back the curtain to reveal a shared illusion. The quest for prettiness is systemic, a societal trap that pits individuals against themselves and each other.

‘Pretty isn’t pretty enough’ is not just a refrain; it’s a societal echo, a collective whisper that haunts the corridors of schools, offices, and homes. Rodrigo sings not just of her trials but echoes the silent cries of millions who have been led to believe in their solitary inadequacy when, in truth, it is the standard itself that is flawed.

From the Silhouette of Consumerism to the Contours of Self-Acceptance

The sheer futility encapsulated by lines like ‘I bought all the clothes that they told me to buy, I chased some dumb ideal my whole fucking life’ captures the essence of Rodrigo’s criticism. It’s an attack on consumerism’s role in the perpetuation of the beauty myth—one that suggests you can buy your way to self-esteem. Yet, her powerful conclusion is that none of it matters, none of it ends; the cycle just perpetuates more hurt.

These memorable lines don’t leave us in despair, though; they point to the beginning of wisdom. The recognition that ‘pretty isn’t pretty enough’ is both an elegy and a battle cry for self-acceptance. Rodrigo expertly calls for a rebellion against the relentless pressure to achieve the unachievable, urging us to redefine beauty on our terms, and perhaps begin the personal journey towards genuine, unapologetic self-love.