Story Behind The Song

When I wrote this song, I was dating this girl. And I could see the difference between when she and I were alone, and when we were out in public, say with a group of friends at a bar. And how she would have to put on a kind of 'shield' to keep creepy suitors at bay. And ultimately, truthfully, I found that I was most interested in her because of her looks as well. So this song is my attempt to describe that phenomenon, and hopefully, by adopting her perspective, rise above it.

Song Description

Written for a friend of mine. She is a wonderful person, and quite pretty, but her beauty often seems to be a curse. She's not taken seriously and people assume she is unintelligent, or that she has little else to offer other than her appearance. Our current society has placed so much importance on looks. And it impacts everything from job opportunities and advancement, to friendships and relationships.

Lyrics

She dances down the street
shadowed by a Monet painted sky
her sandals applaud the concrete
celebrating carefree summer nights

But savages toss sexuality like confetti
and she wonders why they don't choke
on their rotten language
cause it ties her insides like braided rope

Softer skin
it's not as strong as people think
Softer skin
sometimes it's so hard, living in, softer skin

She braves the Boston nightlife
and builds walls of friends for protection
from hungry panthers prowling
arrogant grins reveal predatory intentions

And she's trained her tongue
to fire like a gun
and shoot down every single one
of the guys who compliment her eyes while staring at her chest
as she wonders if there are any decent people left

Softer skin
it's not as strong as people think
Softer skin
sometimes it's so hard, living in, softer skin

She curses as she looks in the mirror
at the unwanted attention for her reflection
not understanding why, they don't recognize
her depth in countless dimensions

She's learned that the people who collect pretty things
they don't give a damn about what she thinks
their preconceptions penetrate her mind
and she's started to believe that all she has is on the outside

She remembers the safety of her younger years
mother's kisses turning off faucets of tears
father's arms like armor shielding her from the world
and she longs to be, again a little girl

Softer skin
it's not as strong as people think
Softer skin
sometimes it's so hard, living in, her softer skin