Verse 1
G 
Little girl with the press and curl 
Cm 
Age eight I got a Jheri curl 
Bb 
Thirteen and I got a relaxer 
Am                 D 
I was a source of so much laughter 
G 
At fifteen when it all broke off 
Cm 
Eighteen and went all natural 
Bb 
February two thousand and two 
  Am                     D 
I went on and did what I had to do 
G 
Because it was time to change my life 
Cm 
To become the women that I am inside 
Bb 
Ninety-seven dreadlocks all gone 
Am                              D                       G 
I looked in the mirror for the first time and saw that HEY.... 
 
Chorus
G           Cm 
I am not my hair 
              Bb 
I am not this skin 
              Am      D         G 
I am not your expectations no no 
             Cm 
I am not my hair 
               Bb 
I am not this skin 
        Am        D          G 
I am a soul that lives within 
 
Verse 2
G 
Good hair means curls and waves 
Cm 
Bad hair means you look like a slave 
Bb 
At the turn of the century 
    Am                       D 
Its time for us to redefine who we be 
         G 
You can shave it off 
Like a South African beauty 
   Cm 
Or get in on lock 
Like Bob Marley 
Bb 
You can rock it straight 
Like Oprah Winfrey 
        Am 
If its not what's on your head 
            D                  G 
Its what's underneath and say HEY.... 
 
Chorus
G           Cm 
I am not my hair 
              Bb 
I am not this skin 
              Am      D         G 
I am not your expectations no no 
             Cm 
I am not my hair 
               Bb 
I am not this skin 
        Am        D          G 
I am a soul that lives within 
 
Bridge
Gm     F    Cm 
(Whoa, whoa, whoa) 
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better person? 
Gm     F    Cm 
(Whoa, whoa, whoa) 
Does the way I wear my hair make me a better friend? Oh 
Gm     F    Cm 
(Whoa, whoa, whoa) 
Does the way I wear my hair determine my integrity? 
Gm     F     Cm 
(Whoa, whoa, whoa) 
Bb    A       D 
I am expressing my creativity.. 
(Whoa, whoa, whoa) 
 
Verse 3
G 
Breast Cancer and Chemotherapy 
Cm 
Took away her crown and glory 
Bb 
She promised God if she was to survive 
Am                    D 
She would enjoy everyday of her life ooh 
G 
On national television 
Cm 
Her diamond eyes are sparkling 
Bb 
Bald headed like a full moon shining 
Am                 D                     G 
Singing out to the whole wide world like HEY... 
 
Chorus
G           Cm 
I am not my hair 
              Bb 
I am not this skin 
              Am      D         G 
I am not your expectations no no 
             Cm 
I am not my hair 
               Bb 
I am not this skin 
        Am        D          G 
I am a soul that lives within   x2 
 
G 
If I wanna shave it close 
Or if I wanna rock locks 
Cm 
That don't take a bit away 
            Bb 
From the soul that I got 
Am        D 
Dat da da dat da 4x
G 
If I wanna where it braided 
All down my back 
Cm                            Bb 
I don't see what wrong with that 
Am         D 
Dat da da dat da 4x