LITTLE GIRL, I HEAR THAT YOU’RE HELD BACK
YOU’VE GOT CHAINS ON YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE BLACK
YOU’RE NOT STUCK – NONE OF IT’S TRUE
FIRST, TAKE OFF THE CHAINS THEY PUT ON YOU
THE CHAINS ARE IMAGINARY THEY’RE NOT REAL
NOW LET ALL OF THOSE BRUISES HEAL
DON’T HOLD ON TO THE SALT, LET IT GO
IT’S HARD AND IT HURTS, THESE THINGS I KNOW
I’LL LEND A HAND – IT GETS BETTER WITH TIME
YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT YOU TOO CAN SHINE
THEY RANTED, RAVED, AND WENT ON AND ON
NOW ALL OF YOUR OUTER STRENGTH IS GONE
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE
THE MOST IMPORTANT PART TO ME
I’M OUT THERE WHERE YOU’RE AFRAID TO GO
I’VE SEEN THINGS THAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
THESE THINGS ARE UPBUILDING AND SWEET
YOU THINK OF THE PAST, YOU FEEL THE HEAT
WHAT ABOUT THE PRESENT, WHAT ABOUT NOW
IN THE PRESENT THEY WONDER JUST HOW
THIS LITTLE BLACK GIRL, SWEETER THAN JUICE
HAS A WONDERFUL VOICE AND HAS BECOME SO CUTE
THEY WONDER ABOUT YOUR GRACE AND YOUR STYLE
THEY EVEN SAY YOU’VE GOT A BEAUTIFUL SMILE
YOUR POISE IS THAT OF A QUEEN, THEY SAY
JUST TO THINK OF YOU THEY’RE ALL IN DISMAY
THROW AWAY THOSE CHAINS, YOU NEED THEM NO MORE
WHERE YOU’RE GOING ISN’T LIKE WHERE YOU WERE BEFORE
BRUSH OFF THE SALT, WEAR THAT SMILE, AND PASS ON THROUGH
BECAUSE EVERYTHING THEY WANT WILL COME FROM YOU
