Ugly On Purpose

[Verse 1]
Blue dress in a plastic bag
Stuffed in the back of the wardrobe
Mascara streaks on a bathroom sink
She scrubs till her skin goes raw
Mirror framed in cheap gold paint
He used to stand in that doorway
Saying, "Smile for me, pretty thing"
Now every word feels like poison
[Chorus]
So she’s ugly on purpose
Smears her beauty like war paint on her face
If they don’t want her
Maybe she’s finally safe
Carves every memory into one more line
Saying, "You don’t get to own me this time"
Yeah, she’s ugly on purpose
Just trying to survive
[Verse 2]
Kitchen light at 3 a.m.
Cigarette burns on a floral dress
She cuts her hair with trembling hands
Watch the ribbons fall in the trash
Polaroids torn, the corners curl
He kept them hidden in his drawer
She stares down a shard of glass
Whispers, "You can’t touch me anymore"
[Chorus]
‘Cause she’s ugly on purpose
Smears her beauty like war paint on her face
If they don’t want her
Maybe she’s finally safe
Carves every memory into one more line
Saying, "You don’t get to own me this time"
Yeah, she’s ugly on purpose
Just trying to survive
[Bridge]
[Band drops, lone piano]
In the hospital glow, she’s shaking
Stitches running like tracks down her cheek
Doctor asks her, "Were you trying to die?"
She says, "No, I’m just tired of being easy to keep"
[Chorus]
Now she’s ugly on purpose
Still that little girl buried in her eyes
If they don’t see her
Maybe she won’t be their prize
Carves every memory into one more line
Saying, "You don’t get to own me this time"
Yeah, she’s ugly on purpose
(But she’s beautiful inside)
Ugly on purpose
Just trying to stay alive

Big 1980s power ballad, male vocals; clean chorus guitar and warm piano in the verses, tom-heavy drums and wide distorted leads exploding in the chorus; key change for final hook, stacked harmonies on title line, epic snare and cymbal swells pushing emotion over the top, ballad, beautiful