Reflection
Christina Aguilera Lyrics
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You may think you see
Who I really am
But you'll never know me
Every day
It's as if I play a part
Now I see
If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I cannot fool my heart
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
I am now
In a world where I
Have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know?
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
There's a heart that must be
Free to fly
That burns with a need to know
The reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think, how we feel?
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide?
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside? oh
In Christina Aguilera's song Reflection, she is addressing the struggles of finding one's true identity in a world that often expects you to conform to societal norms. The lyrics center around the idea of wearing a mask or playing a part in order to fit in, but ultimately feeling unfulfilled and disconnected from oneself. Christina longs to be seen for who she truly is and to have the freedom to express her beliefs and emotions without fear of judgement or rejection.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me?" as a representation of the internal conflict Christina feels. She battles with feeling like she is not living up to her potential and is not being true to herself, while also feeling pressure to maintain appearances and not rock the boat. The line "Must I pretend that I'm someone else for all time?" further emphasizes her frustration with the social expectations placed upon her.
The song highlights the importance of being authentic and true to oneself, rather than hiding behind a mask or conforming to societal norms. Christina's desire to be loved for who she truly is and to have her inner self be reflected in her outward appearance is a relatable sentiment that many people struggle with.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me
Direct address to the audience to gain their attention
You may think you see
Acknowledgement that others have formed a perception of the singer
Who I really am
The truth about the singer’s identity
But you'll never know me
Emphasis on the fact that others can't fully understand the artist
Every day
Indicates a habitual pattern
It's as if I play a part
The singer feels that they are acting or conforming to societal expectations
Now I see
The singer has gained insight or perspective on their situation
If I wear a mask
Using a metaphor to describe the artist’s attempts to hide their true self
I can fool the world
The artist feels that they can deceive others if they hide their true self
But I cannot fool my heart
Despite their attempts to conceal their true identity, the artist's true self remains unchanged
Who is that girl I see
The singer is reflecting on their own image in a metaphorical mirror
Staring straight back at me?
The reflection is direct and unyielding
When will my reflection show
Desire for their true self to be revealed
Who I am inside?
Emphasis on the importance of inner identity
I am now
The singer’s present reality
In a world where I
The artist recognizes that society may not accept them for who they are
Have to hide my heart
The artist feels they must conceal their innermost emotions
And what I believe in
Explains the values or beliefs that the singer feels must be hidden
But somehow
Despite societal pressures, the singer is determined
I will show the world
The artist wants their true identity to be seen by others
What's inside my heart
Emphasis on the artist’s emotional or moral character
And be loved for who I am
Desire for acceptance of their true self
Why is my reflection
Continued reflection on the metaphorical mirror
Someone I don't know?
The artist feels that their true self is unknown or unfamiliar
Must I pretend that I'm
The singer feels societal pressure to conform to expectations
Someone else for all time?
Desire to escape the pressure to conform
There's a heart that must be
Emphasis on the importance of their emotions
Free to fly
Desire to express oneself without fear of judgement or rejection
That burns with a need to know
Feeling of intensity or urgency to explore one's true identity
The reason why
Desire for an explanation or understanding of one's true self
Why must we all conceal
Rhetorical question to emphasize the societal pressure to conform
What we think, how we feel?
Desire for authenticity and self-expression
Must there be a secret me
The artist feels that they must hide their true self
I'm forced to hide?
Emphasis on the societal pressure to conform
I won't pretend that I'm
The singer is determined to be themselves
Someone else for all time
Refusal to conform to societal expectations
When will my reflection show
Desire for their true self to be revealed
Who I am inside?
Emphasis on the importance of inner identity
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: David Zippel, Matthew Wilder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@hasrulrazieismail
Reflection by Christina Aguilera.
Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you'll never know me
Every day
It's as if I play a part
Now I see
If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I cannot fool my heart
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
I am now
In a world where I
Have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know?
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
There's a heart that must be
Free to fly
That burns with a need to know
The reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think, how we feel?
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide?
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
@VirtuosoChannelaprilpromise
Lyrics
Look at me
You may think you see
Who I really am
But you'll never know me
Every day
It's as if I play a part
Now I see
If I wear a mask
I can fool the world
But I cannot fool my heart
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
I am now
In a world where I
Have to hide my heart
And what I believe in
But somehow
I will show the world
What's inside my heart
And be loved for who I am
Who is that girl I see
Staring straight back at me?
Why is my reflection
Someone I don't know?
Must I pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
There's a heart that must be
Free to fly
That burns with a need to know
The reason why
Why must we all conceal
What we think, how we feel?
Must there be a secret me
I'm forced to hide?
I won't pretend that I'm
Someone else for all time
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
Inside
Who I am inside
@txicmelody13
Letting this song stay with Christina is the best decision Disney has made in a long time. Thank you.
@adamplunkett9589
You are so right
@elsavillarreal7952
Could not agree more
@BabyPinkHeart
Dissaagree. It will be nice to see a new interpretation by a different singer. If it’s not great, then there’s always the original pop version to get back to. People tend to think a new version ruins the old version but it will never go away. I personally prefer the original movie version by Lea Salonga and Christina’s original pop version
@GETOSUPASTAR
Agreed. Nobody else coulda sang this but Chrissy. NOBODY!
@ahbin1984rodan
After 22 years, the song also matured! 😍
@ryanwilson5162
This gift that Disney is giving us is huge, bringing Christina back to sing Reflection. NO ONE could have replaced her.
@sanjaykumartripathi8597
Definitely
@Yumiiyumi-
Not hating on Christina but no one will replace Lea Salonga
@ryanwilson5162
@@Yumiiyumi- Of course. Lea is Lea, and I love her.