Mary Lambert Quotes

Powerful Mary Lambert for Daily Growth

About Mary Lambert

Mary Lambert is an acclaimed American poet, songwriter, and performer who emerged in the mid-1980s as a significant figure in the feminist and LGBTQ+ movements through her poignant, powerful, and raw artistry. Born on February 20, 1967, in Portland, Maine, Lambert was raised in a musical household by her Baptist minister father and mother, who was an accomplished pianist. As a child, she found solace in writing poetry, often as a means to process emotions stemming from her struggle with gender identity and sexuality. Lambert's life took a dramatic turn when she came out as a lesbian at the age of 19 and, soon after, experienced homelessness due to rejection by her family. During this difficult period, Lambert found refuge in poetry and songwriting, developing a unique style that combined vulnerability with unapologetic truth. Her major breakthrough came when she penned the lyrics for the hit single "Same Love" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, which became an anthem for marriage equality during the 2012 referendum in Washington state. The song catapulted Lambert into mainstream success and brought attention to her earlier work, including her debut album, Heart on My Sleeve (2015), and several poetry collections such as She Wants It All (2009) and Hardly Knew Myself (2014). Throughout her career, Lambert has been a powerful advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, mental health awareness, and self-acceptance. Her work continues to inspire generations of artists and audiences alike, encouraging openness, empathy, and the courage to embrace one's truth.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I am brave, I am bruised, I am who I'm meant to be."

This quote emphasizes a powerful message about self-acceptance, resilience, and identity. The speaker identifies themselves as "brave", indicating their willingness to face challenges and adversity with courage. Being "bruised" implies that they have experienced pain or hardships, suggesting a life marked by struggle but not defined by it. The final statement, "I am who I'm meant to be," suggests self-realization and acceptance, implying that despite the bruises, they embrace their true selves and understand their purpose in life. The quote encourages others to find strength in their experiences, accept their flaws as part of their journey, and remain true to themselves.

"You can't erase someone's story because you don't like the chapter they're on."

This quote implies that one should not attempt to alter or dismiss another person's experiences, especially if those experiences are challenging or uncomfortable for us to confront. Everyone has their own journey in life, and each individual faces various chapters, some filled with struggle and others with joy. It is essential to acknowledge and respect these stories, as they shape the individuals we encounter and enrich our collective understanding of humanity.

"Beauty is a choice, not an obligation."

This quote by Mary Lambert emphasizes the personal nature of beauty. It suggests that beauty is not something one must conform to or be obligated to meet societal standards; rather, it's a matter of individual preference or self-expression. In other words, each person has the freedom to define and express their own unique version of beauty. This perspective encourages self-acceptance, personal growth, and empowers individuals to break free from external pressures regarding appearance.

"It's okay to feel unsure, just don't let it stop you."

This quote suggests that it is natural and normal to experience uncertainty or doubt in life, but one should not allow these feelings to prevent them from moving forward and taking action. Instead, acknowledge the uncertainty and use it as motivation to take calculated steps towards achieving your goals. Embrace the journey of growth and self-discovery, trusting in yourself and your ability to navigate through any challenges that may arise.

"You are enough, exactly as you are."

This quote by Mary Lambert encourages self-acceptance, implying that individuals should embrace themselves without striving for perfection or comparison to others. It is a call for self-love, self-worth, and the understanding that one's inherent value does not depend on external validation or achievements. In essence, it means that every person is worthy and complete just as they are, and they should not seek to change themselves to meet society's standards or expectations.

I have a big thing with eye contact, because I think as soon as you make eye contact with somebody, you see them, and they become valued and worthy.

- Mary Lambert

Think, Big, I Think, Worthy

Fat bodies are used comically. I respect Rebel Wilson so much, and Melissa McCarthy. I love them both. But so often, I feel like fat female bodies are used as props.

- Mary Lambert

Love, Like, McCarthy, Rebel

Self-care is the number one solution to helping somebody else. If you are being good to yourself and your body and your psyche, that that serves other people better because you will grow strong enough to life someone else up.

- Mary Lambert

Strong, Other, Helping, Psyche

It's a really skewed part of our culture that happiness is the end-all be-all. The people that force themselves to be happy all the time often end up being the most broken.

- Mary Lambert

Happy, Broken, Part, End-All

Sylvia Plath, Rumi, there's a lot of spoken word poets who do a really incredible job putting their spoken work into page poetry - that's what I strive to do.

- Mary Lambert

Work, Incredible, Putting, Spoken Word

Going from someone playing 15-people venues to performing at the Grammys, it was this giant leap and sort of showed me it was possible with what I wanted to do and the kind of music I wanted to write and artist I want to be to impact a lot of people.

- Mary Lambert

Music, Artist, Lot, Grammys

I'm a sensitive, sensitive person. Overly sensitive. Extremely emotional.

- Mary Lambert

Person, Emotional, Extremely, Overly

I came out when I was 17. I was in the church; I was crying every Sunday for about a year. I came to terms with the fact with this is who I was - I wasn't going to be able to be a different person. At 17, you feel like a freak already, and so to have that fire and brimstone against your attraction is just screwed up!

- Mary Lambert

Fact, Year, Against, Attraction

I feel like I'm like a healer in a pop singer's life.

- Mary Lambert

Singer, Like, Pop, Healer

I've always had a little bit of darkness, and I've always been someone who was grieving. I had kind of had a tumultuous upbringing living in an abusive home, so for me, writing has always been a point of catharsis.

- Mary Lambert

Living, Always, Been, Grieving

Being in Los Angeles is this brutal awakening, where I feel not good enough as soon as I walk into a room, and I'm wearing the wrong thing, or I don't have enough make up on. It's all about image.

- Mary Lambert

Not Good Enough, Feel, About, Awakening

Body love is more than acceptance of self or the acceptance of the body. Body love is about self-worth in general. It's more than our physical appearance.

- Mary Lambert

Love, More, About, Love Is

Even when I'm in a really great, steady and stable place... I'm clinically bipolar, so that always exists - a darkness always exists.

- Mary Lambert

Great, Always, Really, Stable

To be honest, I used to hate shopping. I rarely left a store without crying, cursing my body, and swearing under my breath at the fashion industry.

- Mary Lambert

Swearing, Industry, Cursing, Fashion Industry

I think no matter how you think about your music, you're ultimately in the music 'business.' I think you have to be business-minded in some sense. And for me, the real goal... is positive intention and social change through music. It doesn't mean that can't turn a profit.

- Mary Lambert

Through, Some, I Think, Profit

It is a little scary to go across the whole country, and basically the world, and be like, 'What's up? I'm gay, and you should let me get married everywhere.' I don't feel like I'm a spokesperson. I just sing what my experience is.

- Mary Lambert

Country, Feel, Whole, Spokesperson

Yes, I would loved to have just sustained myself through my art, but less than one in a billion musicians gets that life. So rather than being like, 'I'm an exception!', like a moron, I thought I'd get a real job.

- Mary Lambert

Thought, Exception, Through, Moron

Adele shattered the image of how the stereotypical singer is supposed to look. She has that whole 'Screw you, I'm awesome for what I do' attitude, which I really look up to and want to be a part of.

- Mary Lambert

Image, Shattered, Which, Screw

I look up to Tegan & Sara, obviously, Adele and Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks. All these artists are strong in their convictions, and they haven't changed who they are for the music business.

- Mary Lambert

Strong, Music Business, Convictions

I'm not dieting anymore. I want to eat what my body is asking of me. Just listen to your body in general - it's all self-awareness.

- Mary Lambert

Want, Asking, Your, Self-Awareness

So I want to make money. I think it's an OK goal to have. I always felt like I can't ask for that. But why not?

- Mary Lambert

Think, Always, I Think, Why Not

Bike lanes are the coolest. My favorite past time is flipping off cars from my bicycle. Just kidding - I'm more of a silent resentment kind of girl.

- Mary Lambert

Past, Bicycle, Silent, Coolest

When I came out, I said, 'I'm going to be a proud gay artist.' I'm not going to be Melissa Etheridge. But she's a goddess!

- Mary Lambert

Proud, Artist, Going, Melissa

One of the best parts about my job is that I get to dress for red carpets and appearances, and I often forgo working with a stylist because fashion is half the fun of any event!

- Mary Lambert

Dress, About, Half, Forgo

People are constantly not feeling, but numbing themselves, either through medication or playing on their phones. If you start feeling bad, it's like, 'Distract! Distract! Put on Storage Wars!' And I know because I'm guilty of it, too.

- Mary Lambert

Bad, Through, Numbing, Medication

Before I got on full-time medication, I believed that my mental disorder was the reason I could create so much and create well, because it made me crazy. I could go to these dark places and then come out of it and just be human again.

- Mary Lambert

Reason, Full-Time, Before, Medication

I don't think of my songs as sad songs. I think of them as vulnerable and honest. I crack jokes in between songs, so people don't leave feeling too dark.

- Mary Lambert

Think, I Think, Them, Sad Songs

If people can find something that they love about themselves after going to one of my shows, then I am so addicted to that feeling. It's the most gratifying thing on earth.

- Mary Lambert

Love, Going, Addicted, Gratifying

I think a lot of us have some form of body dysmorphia... You're looking in the mirror, and you're kind of disassociated in some way. I think a good reminder is to actually, physically touch yourself. 'Ah, okay, this is what my arm feels like. It's not what I'm mutating in my head. I'm not some sort of scary monster.'

- Mary Lambert

Mirror, Some, Feels, Arm

That's why fame freaks me out in a lot of ways - because how genuine of a connection can you have when you're a commodity, and a conversation with you means bragging rights? That's terrifying to me.

- Mary Lambert

Terrifying, Commodity, Means, Freaks

After a show over the summer, a girl came up to me who was a pastor at her church, which was not accepting of same-sex relationships. She said that 'Same Love' allowed her to come out regardless of the consequences.

- Mary Lambert

Love, Church, Allowed, Same-Sex

I think artists are scared to have same-gendered pronouns in their writing, and I don't think it's because they're scared to be out, because gay artists are visible, but they don't want to alienate an audience.

- Mary Lambert

Think, Audience, I Think, Alienate

I was going to be a teacher. I was applying to graduate school when I got the call to do 'Same Love,' actually. I was gonna go to Boston University for my masters in teaching.

- Mary Lambert

Love, Boston, Applying, Graduate School

I wrote the chorus specifically for 'Same Love' as a narration of my story. I decided to release 'She Keeps Me Warm' as an extension of the chorus because I felt like there was more that needed to be said.

- Mary Lambert

Love, Like, Extension, Chorus

I want to go to Italy and France; those are my two places. And I really want to go to Greece. I've seen so many pictures on Airbnb that make me think I should be living there. I could eat great salads and be on a boat.

- Mary Lambert

Pictures, Two, Seen, Boat

The bottom line is: You are in control of your reactions to things and how you view things.

- Mary Lambert

View, How, Bottom, Reactions

As I got older, I fell in love with Radiohead, and 'OK Computer' is one of my favorite albums of theirs. Sonically, the tone of the guitars on tracks like 'Electioneering' just rips right through me.

- Mary Lambert

Love, Through, Albums, OK

I don't have all answers, but as far as viewing my body... I'm in a place where I can look at my stretch marks and say, 'Oh, hey, stretch marks!' and I'm over it.

- Mary Lambert

Answers, Over, Over It, Hey

Growing up, people are like, 'Mary, we'll see you at the Grammys.' You're like, 'I'll be at the Grammys.' Then, you're actually at the Grammys! That actually is happening; it's not just something people are saying because they like your music. It's real!

- Mary Lambert

See, Your, Something People, Just Something

There is so much shame and guilt in our society, and I think it has deprived a lot of people from living fully. We are all facing battles... We've all had someone who has hurt us. So let's talk about it.

- Mary Lambert

Shame, I Think, About, Fully

If I can sit down at my keyboard and have a melody that says something that I can't with words, that's a really beautiful thing.

- Mary Lambert

Words, Down, Keyboard, Beautiful Thing

Music for me is a bit more spiritual. There are moments when I'm sitting at my piano, and I don't realize that I've been playing for two hours - it feels like divine power. I know it's so cheesy.

- Mary Lambert

Been, Feels, Bit, Sitting

I used to be on the kitchen floor, crying, wasted and thinking of lyrics. That was the only way I could create - as a tortured artist. I've learned that you can be stable and taking care of yourself and still create beautiful work.

- Mary Lambert

Artist, Still, Learned, Lyrics

It's taken me a long time to enjoy shopping. As a plus-size girl, you walk into a store, and it can sometimes be like a designer doesn't know you exist. It's become a fun treasure hunt.

- Mary Lambert

Sometimes, Like, Hunt, Shopping

There I am, chain-smoking and watching YouTube videos in my bedroom at 6 A.M. when a spoken-word video comes on the screen. I knew I had to do it: that it was another part of me that needed to be explored.

- Mary Lambert

YouTube, Knew, Needed, Explored

It's an interesting thing about being a 'fem.' People automatically assume that I'm straight.

- Mary Lambert

Interesting, Straight, About, Assume

I have gained so much more from my experiences of being open and loving humanity rather than being jaded and being closed-off.

- Mary Lambert

More, Rather, Being, Jaded

I'm learning how to keep my identity and personal life sacred. It's a matter of knowing my limits. I don't have to give everything that's asked of me.

- Mary Lambert

Learning, Personal, Give, Limits

In my field, you can't really wear the same dress twice unless you want Isaac Mizrahi to scorn you on TV.

- Mary Lambert

Dress, TV, Isaac, Scorn

I try to harmonize and sing every moment that I can.

- Mary Lambert

Try, Sing, Every, Harmonize

As soon as I check into a hotel, I get butt naked and I watch super trash TV like 'Storage Wars' and 'The Bachelor.'

- Mary Lambert

Bachelor, Like, TV, Trash

I was a really, really depressed kid.

- Mary Lambert

Kid, Really, Depressed

There's this idea that when you make a certain amount of money that you should be staying at four-star hotels and taking town cars. And believe me, I will take a town car every day, but there are some things where it's like, 'Is this necessary? Is this important?'

- Mary Lambert

Every Day, Some, Idea, Hotels

I think I streaked one time when I was 16, which was scary.

- Mary Lambert

Think, I Think, Which, One Time

Just because you're not thin does not mean you're ugly. You are beautiful because of the light you carry inside you. You are beautiful because you say you are, and you hold yourself that way.

- Mary Lambert

Ugly, Inside, Say, Thin

I hope people learn the power of vulnerability through my songs. I think vulnerability can save the world. Empathy helps people connect with each other.

- Mary Lambert

Empathy, Think, Through, Helps

Gay rights and body acceptance are two things I feel very passionately about.

- Mary Lambert

Very, About, Passionately, Gay

When you're 17 in the suburbs and know only three gay people, holding hands with your girlfriend is a proclamation.

- Mary Lambert

Hands, Suburbs, Your, Gay

At this point, I have 10 pairs of cat earrings because fans bring them to me. The next song I write, I'm going to be like, 'I love Chanel.'

- Mary Lambert

Love, Song, Next, Chanel

I would sing to my Beanie Babies, and I sort of created this alternate universe where I was famous, and there were thousands of people that I was singing to.

- Mary Lambert

Singing, Famous, Created, Alternate

I'm a big emotional mess. I try to talk about things that people don't like to talk about, especially in music. Hopefully it reaches someone and lets them access their vulnerability. That's what I want it to accomplish.

- Mary Lambert

Big, Access, About, Hopefully

I'd want it to be really special to both of us, but I'm a huge fan of 'At Last' as a wedding song. But what's also really cool is songs that no one else would have at their wedding, like an obscure Radiohead song.

- Mary Lambert

Song, Like, Last, Radiohead

You don't accomplish a lot by changing people's opinions by shoving facts down their throat. I think you change people's opinions by opening your heart up and showing the parallels between you and another person. That's how people's ideas shift.

- Mary Lambert

I Think, Another, Throat, Opening

I feel like if I couldn't write, I would explode.

- Mary Lambert

Feel, Like, Would, Explode

For me, writing is just processing.

- Mary Lambert

Writing, Me, Just, Processing

I'm not saying everybody has a social responsibility of what art they create, but art should be open-ended. I just feel there's a lack of consciousness and understanding of impact and reach. Just maybe, for a second, just think of the effect you could have with a lyric.

- Mary Lambert

Reach, Maybe, Everybody, Lyric

My life is going at the speed of light, so it's a lot of just trying... to be present in each moment... Giving each situation and each part of life that space and making sure that it's sacred in every aspect.

- Mary Lambert

My Life, Making, Sure, Situation

I knew when I shot the 'She Keeps Me Warm' video that the comments were not going to be homophobic... that they would be about fat-shaming. I'm a large girl making out with somebody. I knew just that sheer fact would set people off.

- Mary Lambert

Fact, About, Video, Keeps

The thing I really love about my fans is the vulnerability and openness, the crying and the hugs. They are so kind.

- Mary Lambert

Love, Kind, About, Crying

I came out when I was 17 - coming out in middle or high school is one of the most difficult things that anyone could experience. I wouldn't wish it on my enemies.

- Mary Lambert

Middle, Difficult, Could, Enemies

I was bartending when I recorded 'Same Love,' and when it was on the radio, too. I remember overhearing people talking about the song while I was making them drinks.

- Mary Lambert

Love, Song, I Remember, Recorded

If you want to help somebody, make sure you're coming from a place of clarity and complete non-judgment; that way, you can begin to understand their journey, too.

- Mary Lambert

Journey, Want, Sure, Complete

I like to think that my music allows people that cathartic cry.

- Mary Lambert

Music, Think, Like, Cathartic

Getting snail mail is one of my favorite indulgences, and I think receiving mail is actually a common joy.

- Mary Lambert

Think, Snail, I Think, Receiving

I know how I want to operate as an artist. And that is by having an honest, genuine dialogue about this kind of screwed up journey I've had that I'm so thankful for.

- Mary Lambert

Journey, Screwed, Having, Operate

Beauty, by way of fashion, has to do with confidence, with flattering silhouettes, with patterns, with proper fit for body type, and with an abundance of self-love!

- Mary Lambert

Beauty, Self-Love, Fashion

I remember when I heard 'Jessie's Girl' for the first time, I was like, 'This is so applicable to lesbians!'

- Mary Lambert

I Remember, Like, Lesbians, Applicable

My mom, grandma, great-grandma - we're all named Mary, and we all play piano and sing.

- Mary Lambert

Play, Piano, Named, Grandma

Treat others as you wish to be treated. Don't just be nice, but be kind to other people. That can be so rewarding.

- Mary Lambert

Treat, Other, Treated, Be Nice

I'm one of the writers that would die if I didn't say what I needed to say. For me, it's a matter of survival to write.

- Mary Lambert

Die, Say, Needed, Survival

After singing 'Same Love' across the nation, it's given me faith that I've underestimated the straight world.

- Mary Lambert

Love, Singing, Given, Underestimated

I think, for me as an artist, there are no boundaries. As long as I'm creating in a way that isn't trying to re-traumatize any wounds that I do have.

- Mary Lambert

Think, I Think, Wounds, Creating

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