I'll Make A Man Out Of You
Chorus - Mulan Lyrics
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Did they send me daughters when I asked for sons?
You're the saddest bunch I've ever met
But you can bet before we're through
Mister, I'll make a man out of you
Tranquil as a forest
Once you find your center
You are sure to win
You're a spineless, pale, pathetic lot
And you haven't got a clue
Somehow I'll make a man out of you
I'm never gonna catch my breath
Say goodbye to those who knew me
Why was I a fool in school for cutting gym
This guy's got them scared to death
Hope he doesn't see right through me
Now I really wish that I knew how to swim
(Be a man)
You must be swift as the coursing river
(Be a man)
With all the force of a great typhoon
(Be a man)
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
Time is racing toward us until the Huns arrive
Heed my every order and you might survive
You're unsuited for the rage of war
So pack up, go home, you're through
How could I make a man out of you?
(Be a man)
You must be swift as a coursing river
(Be a man)
With all the force of a great typhoon
(Be a man)
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
(Be a man)
We must be swift as a coursing river
(Be a man)
With all the force of a great typhoon
(Be a man)
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
The song "I'll Make a Man Out of You" from Disney's animated movie, Mulan, is a high-energy training montage in which Captain Li Shang is tasked with training the inexperienced soldiers to become capable fighters able to defend China from the invading Huns. The lyrics in the opening lines - "Let's get down to business to defeat the Huns, did they send me daughters when I asked for sons?"- demonstrate the urgency and importance of their mission. The narrative suggests a patriarchal perspective and male-centered approach to warfare.
The chorus "Be a man" contains powerful messaging that implies traditional masculine values such as strength, courage, and competitiveness are necessary for success in the army. Captain Li Shang sees his soldiers as "spineless, pale, pathetic," and "unsuited for the rage of war." Despite this, he refers to them as "Mister," acknowledging that he believes in their potential to become strong soldiers.
The lyrics "Tranquil as a forest but on fire within, once you find your center, you are sure to win" imply that mental and emotional balance is as crucial as physical strength for success in war. This line represents the central theme of the film, which is Mulan's journey to self-discovery and acceptance of herself as a woman with strength and courage. Overall, the song is a call to action to train hard to become a warrior, with the expectation of fulfilling traditional masculine roles.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's get down to business to defeat the Huns
Let's focus on our goal of defeating the enemy.
Did they send me daughters when I asked for sons?
Why did they send me inexperienced soldiers instead of trained men?
You're the saddest bunch I've ever met But you can bet before we're through Mister, I'll make a man out of you
Though you lack courage now, I will train and motivate you to become strong and brave warriors.
Tranquil as a forest But on fire within Once you find your center You are sure to win
You may appear calm and peaceful, but you also have a fierce determination to succeed. When you focus on your inner strength, you will be victorious.
You're a spineless, pale, pathetic lot And you haven't got a clue Somehow I'll make a man out of you
At the moment, you lack bravery and knowledge, but I will train you to become bolder and more competent.
I'm never gonna catch my breath Say goodbye to those who knew me Why was I a fool in school for cutting gym This guy's got them scared to death Hope he doesn't see right through me Now I really wish that I knew how to swim
I am struggling to keep up physically and mentally with the other soldiers. I am worried I may fail and disappoint others. I regret not being better prepared for this battle.
(Be a man) You must be swift as the coursing river (Be a man) With all the force of a great typhoon (Be a man) With all the strength of a raging fire Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
To be a true warrior, you must be quick, powerful, and mysterious. You must possess the energy of a strong river, the might of a typhoon, and the passion of a burning fire.
Time is racing toward us until the Huns arrive Heed my every order and you might survive
The enemy is approaching rapidly. Follow my instructions carefully, and we may be able to survive.
You're unsuited for the rage of war So pack up, go home, you're through How could I make a man out of you?
You may not have what it takes to fight in battle. You should consider leaving now. How can I transform you into a warrior?
(Be a man) You must be swift as a coursing river (Be a man) With all the force of a great typhoon (Be a man) With all the strength of a raging fire Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
Once again, to be a warrior, you must be quick, powerful, and mysterious. You must possess the energy of a strong river, the might of a typhoon, and the passion of a burning fire.
(Be a man) We must be swift as a coursing river (Be a man) With all the force of a great typhoon (Be a man) With all the strength of a raging fire Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
As a team, we must embody the traits of strong and skilled warriors in order to defeat the enemy.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Junior
Not gonna lie, the baritone soloist's impersonation of Eddie Murphy at 1:36 almost made me pass water through my nose.
Jarom Richardson
my choir is doing this song its gonna be fire ngl
Tempestus
The boys of my choir just did this as part of our last concert of the year. I just got home from performing in it and it along with the other songs done were absolutely amazing.
ʕ·ᴥ·ʔ
Omg I worked with Roger Emerson in highschool! Jazz choir with Eastman! MSH Bears, baby!
AvoidingFOP
Amazing quality
Cartlain Jaynes
Excellent.
Austin Pierce
Lit