Back when I had a little
I thought that I needed a lot
A little was over rated
But a lot was a little too complicated
You see, zero didn't satisfy me
A million didn't make me happy
That's when I learned the lesson
That it's all about your perceptions
Hey, are you a pauper or a superstar?
So you act, so you feel, so you are
It ain't about the size of your car
It's about the size of the faith in your heart

There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that
There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that
There's hope

Off in the back country of Brazil
A met a young brother that made me feel
That I could accomplish anything
(You see, just like me, he wanted to sing)
(He had) no windows and no doors
He lived a simple life and was extremely poor
On top of all of that, he had no eyesight
(But that didn't keep him from seein' the light)
(He said) what's it like in the USA?
And all I did was complain
(He said) living here is paradise
He taught me paradise is in your mind; you know that...

There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that
There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that
There's hope

Every time I turn on the T.V. (There's hope)
Somebody's acting crazy (There's hope)
If you let it, it'll drive you crazy (There's hope)
But I'm takin' back my power today (There's hope)
Gas prices - they just keep on rising (There's hope)
The government - they keep on lying
But we gotta keep on surviving
Keep living our truth and do the best we can do

'Cause there's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that, yeah, yeah
There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that
There's hope

Stand up for your rights
Keep shining your light
And show the world your smile

Stand up for your rights
Keep shining your light
And show the world your smile

There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that
There's hope
It doesn't cost a thing to smile
You don't have to pay to laugh
You better thank God for that
There's hope

Copyright: BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Writer(s): ANTHONY DAVID HARRINGTON, BRANDEN BURCH, INDIA ARIE, INDIA ARIE SIMPSON