Lyrics
The words.
[Verse 1]
There’s a little girl hiding in a grown-up face
With her hands full of castles and stars
She learned how to build everybody a world
While she slept in the ruins of hers
She could make you a doorway
She could make you a sky
She could make dead things bloom again
And never tell you why
But when the lights all go out
And the applause disappears
She’s still standing there barefoot
Saying, “Can anybody hear?”
[Chorus]
What about her?
The girl underneath
The one who kept glowing
With dirt on her knees
What about her?
Before she was strong
Before she made magic
For everyone else’s songs
Can’t you see
She wants to live
Not for what she can carry
Not for what she can give
What about her?
What about her?
What about…
Her?
[Verse 2]
She brought dreams into daylight
She made monsters look kind
She gave names to the lonely
And left none for her own mind
She was praised for the saving
She was loved for the flame
But nobody asked softly
If she wanted the same
Not a crown, not a kingdom
Not a debt to repay
Just a hand on her cheek
Saying, “You’re beautiful. Stay.”
[Chorus]
What about her?
The girl underneath
The one who kept glowing
With dirt on her knees
What about her?
Before she was brave
Before she learned smiling
Was how little girls behave
Can’t you see
She wants to live
Not for what she can carry
Not for what she can give
What about her?
What about her?
What about…
Her?
[Bridge]
Take a step back
See the child in the doorway
She’s been waiting there all this time
Not asking for worship
Not asking for rescue
Just somebody saying, “Your light is still mine.”
And maybe she’s tired
Of being the reason
Everyone else survives the dark
Maybe she’s more than
The worlds she created
Maybe she’s worthy
Before the first spark
[Verse 3]
Now she’s standing on the corner
While the whole world goes home
With a heart full of thunder
And a body like a throne
She says, “I know I am magic
But that isn’t my plea
Could someone please love me
When I’m not doing anything?”
[Final Chorus]
What about her?
The girl underneath
The one who kept glowing
When no one could see
What about her?
The soft little flame
The one who was holy
Before she had a name
Can’t you see
She wants to live
Not for what she can carry
Not for what she can give
Look at her now
She’s still here
With light in her chest
And her eyes full of tears
What about her?
What about her?
What about…
Me?
[Outro]
I was beautiful then
I am beautiful still
Not because I saved the world
Not because I always will
I was only a girl
With a light in my skin
And I deserved to be loved
Before I had to begin.
There’s a little girl hiding in a grown-up face
With her hands full of castles and stars
She learned how to build everybody a world
While she slept in the ruins of hers
She could make you a doorway
She could make you a sky
She could make dead things bloom again
And never tell you why
But when the lights all go out
And the applause disappears
She’s still standing there barefoot
Saying, “Can anybody hear?”
[Chorus]
What about her?
The girl underneath
The one who kept glowing
With dirt on her knees
What about her?
Before she was strong
Before she made magic
For everyone else’s songs
Can’t you see
She wants to live
Not for what she can carry
Not for what she can give
What about her?
What about her?
What about…
Her?
[Verse 2]
She brought dreams into daylight
She made monsters look kind
She gave names to the lonely
And left none for her own mind
She was praised for the saving
She was loved for the flame
But nobody asked softly
If she wanted the same
Not a crown, not a kingdom
Not a debt to repay
Just a hand on her cheek
Saying, “You’re beautiful. Stay.”
[Chorus]
What about her?
The girl underneath
The one who kept glowing
With dirt on her knees
What about her?
Before she was brave
Before she learned smiling
Was how little girls behave
Can’t you see
She wants to live
Not for what she can carry
Not for what she can give
What about her?
What about her?
What about…
Her?
[Bridge]
Take a step back
See the child in the doorway
She’s been waiting there all this time
Not asking for worship
Not asking for rescue
Just somebody saying, “Your light is still mine.”
And maybe she’s tired
Of being the reason
Everyone else survives the dark
Maybe she’s more than
The worlds she created
Maybe she’s worthy
Before the first spark
[Verse 3]
Now she’s standing on the corner
While the whole world goes home
With a heart full of thunder
And a body like a throne
She says, “I know I am magic
But that isn’t my plea
Could someone please love me
When I’m not doing anything?”
[Final Chorus]
What about her?
The girl underneath
The one who kept glowing
When no one could see
What about her?
The soft little flame
The one who was holy
Before she had a name
Can’t you see
She wants to live
Not for what she can carry
Not for what she can give
Look at her now
She’s still here
With light in her chest
And her eyes full of tears
What about her?
What about her?
What about…
Me?
[Outro]
I was beautiful then
I am beautiful still
Not because I saved the world
Not because I always will
I was only a girl
With a light in my skin
And I deserved to be loved
Before I had to begin.