Love My Hair

Album: Remember Her Name (2021)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Mickey Guyton wrote this song after watching a YouTube video of a black high school student with braids named Faith Fennidy. The Louisiana school authorities sent the little girl home because they claimed her hair was distracting.

    Guyton couldn't even finish the video because seeing the tearful Faith's embarrassment and pain brought back her own agonies as a young girl. "I wanted to write a song to this little girl facing adversity because of what God gave her," she said. "I want her and anyone facing similar struggles to feel seen."
  • Guyton begins the track by describing her discomfort when strangers try to touch and run their fingers through her hair. Throughout the rest of the cut, she intertwines experiences from her own perspective with an encouragement to other young girls of color that their curls are natural, God-given, and something to love.
  • Guyton wrote the personal song with Anna Krantz. The Dublin-based singer and songwriter has also written for Ed Sheeran, Cliff Richard and Geri Halliwell.
  • Karen Kosowski ("Hold On," "What Are You Gonna Tell Her?") produced the song with additional production by Johnny Simmen.
  • Guyton recorded "Love My Hair" for her debut album, Remember Her Name. The song's narrative of self-acceptance and embracing differences is a theme that runs throughout the record.
  • Mickey Guyton performed the song at the 2021 CMA Awards with her friends Brittney Spencer and Madeline Edwards. Introduced by Faith Fennidy, their rendition found the three women of color proudly showing off their natural hair.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.