Man in the Mirror was written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett, and produced by Quincy Jones for Michael Jacksons seventh solo album, Bad. The song is about self-reflection and the power of change, inspired by Jacksons belief that change starts with the individual.
I'm gonna make a change, for once in my life It's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right As I, turn up the collar on my favorite winter coat, this wind is blowin' my mind I see the kids in the street, with not enough to eat Who am I, to be blind, pretending not to see their needs A summer's disregard, a broken bottle top And a one man's soul They follow each other on the wind ya' know 'Cause they got nowhere to go That's why I want you to know
I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer If you wanna make the world a better place Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
Na na na, na na na na, na na, na na, uh-huh
I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love, It's time that I realize There are some with no home, not a nickel to loan Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone? A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart And a washed-out dream They follow the pattern of the wind, ya' see 'Cause they got no place to be That's why I'm starting with me
I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer If you wanna make the world a better place Take a look at yourself, and then make a change I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways And no message could have been any clearer If you wanna make the world a better place Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways No message could have been any clearer If you wanna make the world a better place Take a look at yourself and then make the change You gotta get it right, while you got the time 'Cause when you close your heart
Then you close your, mind I'm starting with the man in the mirror I'm asking him to change his ways No message could have been any clearer If you wanna make the world a better place Take a look at yourself and then make that change Na na na, na na na na, na na, na na, oh yeah Na na na, na na na na, na na, na na, oh no, oh no
I'm gonna make a change It's gonna feel real good, come on (change) Just lift yourself, you know You've got to stop it, yourself (Yeah, make that change) I've got to make that change, today! hoo! (man in the mirror) You got to, you got to not let yourself brother, Hoo! (Yeah, make that change) I've got to get that man, that man (man in the mirror) You've got to, you've got to move! come on! come on! You got to, stand up! stand up! stand up! (Yeah, make that change) Stand up and lift yourself, now! (man in the mirror) Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Aaow! (Yeah, make that change) Gonna make that change, come on! (man in the mirror) You know it! you know it! you know it! you know (Change) Make that change