Mulan Reflection
Christina Aguilera Lyrics


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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?

Overall Meaning

The song "Reflection" from Disney's Mulan is a powerful anthem about identity, self-discovery, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. The lyrics are sung from Mulan's perspective as she contemplates her own reflections and the expectations placed upon her by society. She is torn between the person she is and the person she is expected to be, feeling that she must hide her heart and what she believes in. She acknowledges the masks she wears to appear to be someone else, but ultimately realizes that she cannot fool her own heart. She longs for her true self to be seen by the world and loved for who she truly is.


The chorus of the song contains the most poignant line, "When will my reflection show who I am inside?" This line encapsulates Mulan's internal struggle to reconcile her true self with the expectations placed upon her. The song ends on a hopeful note, with Mulan asserting that she will eventually show the world what's inside her heart and be loved for who she truly is.


Overall, "Reflection" is a powerful anthem that resonates with anyone who has ever struggled with identity and societal expectations. It encourages listeners to be true to themselves and embrace their true selves, even when it feels like the world is telling them otherwise.


Line by Line Meaning

Look at me
I am asking you to see me


You may think you see
You might think you know me


Who I really am
My true self


But you'll never know me
However, you'll never really know me


Every day
Each day that goes by


It's as if I play a part
I feel like I am acting a role


Now I see
Finally, I see


If I wear a mask
If I hide part of myself


I can fool the world
I can deceive everyone


But I cannot fool my heart
But I can't deceive myself


Who is that girl I see
I'm puzzled by the girl I'm seeing


Staring straight back at me?
As she stares right at me


When will my reflection show
When will I understand myself


Who I am inside?
When will I know who I truly am


I am now
Right now, I exist


In a world where I
In this reality where I


Have to hide my heart
I conceal my true feelings


And what I believe in
And also my beliefs


But somehow
Nevertheless, I know


I will show the world
I'll demonstrate to everyone


What's inside my heart
What I feel deep down


And be loved for who I am
And people will love me for me


Why is my reflection
Why is the person I see


Someone I don't know?
Someone I'm not familiar with?


Must I pretend that I'm
Is it necessary for me to act as if


Someone else for all time?
I'm someone else all the time?


There's a heart that must be
There's a heart within me that needs to


Free to fly
Be free to explore and live freely


That burns with a need to know
That has a strong desire to understand


The reason why
The reason for my existence


Why must we all conceal
Why should everyone hide


What we think, how we feel?
What they truly think and feel?


Must there be a secret me
Is it necessary to have a hidden version of myself


I'm forced to hide?
I'm obliged to keep concealed?


I won't pretend that I'm
I'm not going to pretend as if I'm


Someone else for all time
Another person for my whole life


When will my reflection show
When will I understand


Who I am inside?
Who I fundamentally am


When will my reflection show
When will I comprehend


Who I am inside?
Who I really am




Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@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?



All comments from YouTube:

@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 itโ€™s not great, then thereโ€™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 Christinaโ€™s original pop version

@GETOSUPASTAR

Agreed. Nobody else coulda sang this but Chrissy. NOBODY!

@ahbin1984rodan

After 22 years, the song also matured! ๐Ÿ˜

442 More Replies...

@ssr7736

Fun fact: The E5 note that she belts out on that last โ€œinsideโ€ was a challenge in the studio for Christina to hit in the original recording. She referenced Whitney Houstonโ€™s โ€œRun to Youโ€ to help guide her. Now sheโ€™s singing it solid, stronger, and with 10 times more confidence. Love to see it!

@griselmendoza1107

Furious five monkey crane mantis viper tigress aisha Billy politoed Katherine rocky yellow ranger blue ranger pink ranger red ranger

@russellmoyer591

I remember hearing this somewhere but Whitneyโ€™s top note is an f5 in run to you that always confused
Me.

@SUPERMIAU12

*The note is D5

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