[Intro: Harvey Keitel & Beyoncé]

Ms. Third Ward, your first question:

What is your aspiration in life?

Oh, well, my aspiration in life would be

To be happy

[Verse 1]

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"

[Pre-Chorus]

Just another stage

Pageant the pain away

This time, I'm gonna take the crown

Without fallin' down, down, down

[Chorus]

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

We try to fix something

But you can't fix what you can't see

It's the soul that needs a surgery

[Verse 2]

Blonder hair, flat chest

TV says bigger is better

South Beach, sugar-free

Vogue says thinner is better

[Pre-Chorus]

Just another stage

Pageant the pain away

This time, I'm gonna take the crown

Without fallin' down, down, down

[Chorus]

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

We try to fix something

But you can't fix what you can't see

It's the soul that needs the surgery

[Bridge]

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 my 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 façade leaves you in the dark

You're left with shattered mirrors and the shards of a beautiful past

[Chorus]

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)

We shine the light on whatever's worst

Tryna fix something (Pretty hurts)

But you can't fix what you can't see

It's the soul that needs a surgery

[Outro]

When you're alone all by yourself (Pretty hurts, pretty hurts)

And you're lyin' in your bed (Pretty hurts, pretty hurts)

Reflection stares right into you (Pretty hurts, pretty hurts)

Are you happy with yourself? (Pretty hurts, pretty hurts)

You stripped away the masquerade (Pretty hurts, pretty hurts)

The illusion has been shed (Pretty hurts, pretty hurts)

Are you happy with yourself? (Pretty hurts, pretty hurts)

Are you happy with yourself? (Pretty hurts, pretty hurts)

Yeah, yes (Ah, ah, ah)