I'll Make a Man Out of You
Chorus - Mulan & Donny Osmond Lyrics
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Did they send me daughters, when I asked for sons?
You're the saddest bunch I ever met
But you can bet before we're through
Mister, I'll make a man out of you
Tranquil as a forest but on fire within
Once you find your center, you are sure to win
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
Boy, was I a fool in school for cutting gym
This guy's got 'em scared to death
Hope he doesn't see right through me
Now I really wish that I knew how to swim
Be a man
We 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 'til 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
We 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
Be a man
We 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
The song “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” is a power anthem in Disney’s Mulan, sung by Captain Li Shang (Donny Osmond) as he begins training the new recruits of China's army in preparation for battle against the Huns. The song’s opening lines suggest the seriousness of the task ahead: “Let’s get down to business, to defeat the Huns. Did they send me daughters, when I asked for sons?” These lines establish the song’s irreverent and humorous tone, distancing itself from traditional martial music. The phrase “I’ll make a man out of you” repeated through the chorus, can be interpreted as an affirmation of the recruits’ masculinity, an emphasis on the importance of discipline, and transformation.
Throughout the song, Captain Li Shang puts the recruits through rigorous drills to help them overcome their weaknesses and become strong warriors. The lyrics "Tranquil as a forest but on fire within" and "Once you find your center, you are sure to win" allude to the teachings of ancient Chinese philosophy such as Taoism and Confucianism. The recruits’ struggles and vulnerabilities are emphasized through the imagery of nature and their lack of discipline while "Being swift as the coursing river" and "Having all the strength of a raging fire" are exalted as signs of strength and discipline. The song’s repeated reference to manhood is not just about gender, but of rising to the challenge and embodying the qualities of a soldier.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's get down to business, to defeat the Huns
We need to focus and work hard in order to defeat our enemy.
Did they send me daughters, when I asked for sons?
I expected to train strong, brave sons to join me in battle, not weak daughters.
You're the saddest bunch I ever met
You all look weak and depressed.
But you can bet before we're through
I am confident that with our hard work and dedication, we will succeed.
Mister, I'll make a man out of you
I will train you to be strong and brave warriors.
Tranquil as a forest but on fire within
You should remain calm on the outside, but passionate and determined on the inside.
Once you find your center, you are sure to win
If you can find your balance and focus, you will become powerful.
You're a spineless, pale, pathetic lot
You are weak, pale, and have no backbone.
And you haven't got a clue
You don't understand what it takes to be a warrior.
Somehow I'll make a man out of you
With my guidance, you will become strong and brave.
I'm never gonna catch my breath
I am out of breath and feeling overwhelmed.
Say goodbye to those who knew me
I am leaving behind my old life.
Boy, was I a fool in school for cutting gym
I regret not taking my physical training more seriously in the past.
This guy's got 'em scared to death
The enemy is afraid of us.
Hope he doesn't see right through me
I hope the enemy doesn't realize how unprepared I am.
Now I really wish that I knew how to swim
I am not confident in my abilities and wish I knew more skills.
Be a man
We need to act like strong, brave warriors.
We must be swift as the coursing river
We need to move quickly and efficiently.
With all the force of a great typhoon
We need to be powerful and unstoppable.
With all the strength of a raging fire
We need to be fierce and determined.
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
We need to have an air of mystery and intrigue about us.
Time is racing toward us 'til the Huns arrive
We don't have much time before the enemy arrives.
Heed my every order and you might survive
You need to follow my lead in order to increase your chances of surviving.
You're unsuited for the rage of war
You are not prepared for the intensity and danger of battle.
So pack up, go home, you're through
If you're not ready for war, it's best for you to leave now.
How could I make a man out of you?
I am questioning whether I will be able to turn weak, unprepared recruits into strong warriors.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Matthew Wilder, David Zippel
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind