Not A Pretty Girl
Ani DiFranco · So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter [2002]
I am not a pretty girl
that is not what I do
I ain't no damsel in distress
and I don't need to be rescued
so put me down punk
wouldn't you prefer a maiden fair
isn't there a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere?
I am not an angry girl
but it seems like I've got everyone fooled
every time I say something they find hard to hear
they chalk it up to my anger
and never to their own fear
and imagine you're a girl
just trying to finally come clean
knowing full well they'd prefer you
were dirty and smiling
and I am sorry
but I am not a maiden fair
and I am not a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere
and generally, my generation
wouldn't be caught dead working for the man
and generally I agree with them
trouble is you gotta have youself an alternate plan
and I have earned my disillusionment
I have been working all of my life
and I am a patriot
I have been fighting the good fight
and what if there are no damsels in distress
what if I knew that and I called your bluff?
don't you think every kitten figures out how to get down?
whether or not you ever show up
I am not a pretty girl
I don't really want to be a pretty girl
no I want to be more than a pretty girl.
that is not what I do
I ain't no damsel in distress
and I don't need to be rescued
so put me down punk
wouldn't you prefer a maiden fair
isn't there a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere?
I am not an angry girl
but it seems like I've got everyone fooled
every time I say something they find hard to hear
they chalk it up to my anger
and never to their own fear
and imagine you're a girl
just trying to finally come clean
knowing full well they'd prefer you
were dirty and smiling
and I am sorry
but I am not a maiden fair
and I am not a kitten stuck up a tree somewhere
and generally, my generation
wouldn't be caught dead working for the man
and generally I agree with them
trouble is you gotta have youself an alternate plan
and I have earned my disillusionment
I have been working all of my life
and I am a patriot
I have been fighting the good fight
and what if there are no damsels in distress
what if I knew that and I called your bluff?
don't you think every kitten figures out how to get down?
whether or not you ever show up
I am not a pretty girl
I don't really want to be a pretty girl
no I want to be more than a pretty girl.
Not A Pretty Girl
Ani DiFranco's 'Not A Pretty Girl' stands as a defining anthem of the late 1990s feminist punk revival, delivered with her signature raw vocal intensity. Recorded for the 2002 album 'So Much Shouting, So Much Laughter,' the track encapsulates the era's DIY ethos and unapologetic self-expression. The song challenges conventional beauty standards through its direct lyrics and driving rhythm, reflecting DiFranco's lifelong commitment to political activism and personal authenticity. As a staple of her discography, it remains a powerful representation of female empowerment within the independent music scene, resonating with listeners who value honesty over polish.

