I'll Make a Man Out of You (So
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 till 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" from Disney's Mulan is a motivational tune performed by the character named Captain Li Shang. It reveals his mission to train a group of soldiers who are ill-prepared to fight against the Huns. The first verse sarcastically notes the soldiers' weakness, as they are "the saddest bunch I ever met." Shang intends to change this, training them with great intensity and molding them into effective fighters. The chorus encourages the soldiers to "be a man" and embody traits such as strength, swift movement, and great force, reflecting the principles of "manliness" that defined historic Chinese masculinity. The final verse reveals that the stakes are high, as the soldiers must soon confront the Hun army.
The lyrics of the song emphasize the core principles of discipline, hard work, and perseverance, which are essential traits of a successful warrior. The idea behind the tune is that with proper training, anyone can rise to the occasion and become a hero. The message also carries themes of patriarchy, with the idea of manliness as the ultimate de facto nature of success or heroism. The song has been famous for its universally relatable characteristics when it comes to motivation, as it is commonly used in sports or exercise training as an aid to encourage pushing oneself harder.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's get down to business, to defeat the Huns
We must focus and be serious about defeating the Huns
Did they send me daughters, when I asked for sons?
I expected soldiers, not weak girls
You're the saddest bunch I ever met
You are weak and lack self-confidence
But you can bet before we're through, Mister, I'll make a man out of you
By the end, you will be strong and courageous
Tranquil as a forest but on fire within
Calm on the outside, but passionate and driven within
Once you find your center, you are sure to win
Once you discover your inner strength and focus, you will succeed
You're a spineless, pale, pathetic lot
You are weak, feeble, and lack courage
And you haven't got a clue, Somehow I'll make a man out of you
You are lost and unprepared, but I will guide you to become strong and capable
I'm never gonna catch my breath, Say goodbye to those who knew me, Boy, was I a fool in school for cutting gym
I am struggling and unprepared for the challenges ahead. I regret not being physically fit and active in the past
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
I am afraid of this leader and hope he doesn't realize my weaknesses. I wish I had more skills to prepare myself
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
To become strong, we must be as fast as a river, as powerful as a typhoon, as strong as a fire, and as mysterious as the dark side of the moon
Time is racing toward us till the Huns arrive, Heed my every order and you might survive
We must act quickly before the Huns come. Follow my commands and you may live
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 are not ready for the harsh reality of war. You must leave and not come back. I cannot help you become a strong man
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Written by: ZIPPEL, DAVID / WILDER, MATTHEW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind