Written by Lauryn Hill

There was a rose I knew
I met her once or twice before
She was a pretty sweet thing
Not the least bit insecure
Then you came with your sticky game
And played with her youth
Unashamed of the way
You lied and played with the truth

She never knew what hit her
You'd steal her honey then then forget her
Now the rose is scorned
And she wears her thorns
Trying to forget about you

But a rose is still a rose
No matter what you do
Baby girl, you're still a flower
He can't leave you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Darling, girl you hold the power (What I am is what I am)

Now believe me when I tell you
I've been hurt myself
And when he tells you that he loves you
It's you and nobody else
Now you're so tough tryin' to wear tight clothes and things
Tossin' and flossin' tryin' to
Fill the void heartbreak brings
But when she looks in the mirror
She's crying, but you can't hear her
Now the rose is scorned and she wears her thorns
Trying to forget about you

Cause a rose is still a rose
No matter what you do
Baby girl, you're still a flower
He can't leave you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Darling, girl you hold the power (What I am is what I am)

See a rose is still a rose
No matter what you do
Baby girl, you're still a flower
He can't leave you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Darling, girl you hold the power (What I am is what I am)

Let your life be in the sunshine
Not the darkness of your sorrow
You may feel you're lost today
But new love will come tomorrow
Don't believe that life is over
Just because your man is gone
Love yourself enough to know
That without him your life goes on
Without him, your life goes on
Without him, your life goes on

Cause a rose is still a rose
No matter what you do
Baby girl, you're still a flower
He can't leave you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Darling, girl you hold the power (What I am is what I am)

See a rose is still a rose
No matter what you do
Baby girl, you're still a flower
He can't leave you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Darling, girl you hold the power (What I am is what I am)

Aretha