"They say, "Oh my God, I see the way you shine"
Take it all away now, they don't want you to shine
They say, "Oh my God, I see the way you shine"
Take it all away now, they don't want you to shine"
**"The truth is here is the way you hurt me, before
My skin is like parchment and blows you gave me ink"**
The line is a metaphorical expression of the emotional pain someone has caused her. Here's a breakdown:
* "My skin is like parchment": Parchment is a delicate, thin material used for writing. Comparing her skin to parchment suggests that she feels vulnerable and easily marked.
* "blows you gave me ink": This doesn't refer to physical blows, but rather emotional "blows" or hurtful actions/words inflicted by the person she's addressing. The ink symbolizes that these wounds have left a lasting mark, like ink stains on parchment that are difficult to erase.
In essence, Lorde is conveying that someone's actions have hurt her deeply and left an indelible mark on her, making her feel fragile and permanently affected by their negativity. It's a vivid and poetic way to express emotional vulnerability and lasting pain.