Title: Tell Yourself

Artist: Natalie Merchant

I know what you tell yourself you tell yourself
I know what you tell yourself you tell yourself
Look in the mirror
Look in the mirror what does it show?

I hear you counting
I know you're adding up the score
I know, oh yes I know
What you tell yourself, you tell yourself.
I know what you tell yourself, you tell yourself.

Ever since Eden
We're built for pleasing everyone knows
Ever since Adam
Cracked his ribs and let us go
I know, oh yes I know
What you tell yourself, you tell yourself.
I know what you tell yourself, you tell yourself.
I know what you tell yourself, you tell yourself.

Who taught you how to lie
So well and to believe
In each and every word you say?

Who told you that nothing about you is alright
It's just no use, it's just no good you'll never be ok?

Well I know, I know that wrong's been done to you
"It's such a tough world,"
That's what you say
And I know, I know it's easier said than done
But that's enough girl
Give it away
Give it, give it all away

Tell yourself that you're not pretty
Look at you, you're beautiful.
Tell yourself that no one sees
Plain Jane invisible to me

Just tell yourself
Tell yourself
Tell yourself you'll never be like the anorexic beauties in the magazines
Like a bargain basement Barbie doll, no belle du jour, no femme fatale
Just tell yourself, tell yourself
Tell yourself there's nothing worse than the pain inside and the way it hurts
But tell yourself it's nothing new cause everybody feels it too
They feel it too
And there's just no getting 'round the fact that you're thirteen right now.