Man in the Mirror
Jack Vidgen Lyrics
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For once I'm my life
It's gonna feel real good,
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
As I, turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
I see the kids in the streets,
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind?
Pretending not to see their needs
A summer disregard,a broken bottle top
And a one man soul
They follow each other on the wind ya' know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)
(Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah)
I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It's time that I realize
That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone?
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed-out dream
(Washed-out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me
(Starting with me!)
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Change his ways, ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that
(Take a look at yourself and then make that)
Change!
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah!)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Better change!)
No message could have been any clearer
(If you want to make the world a better place)
(Take a look at yourself and then make the change)
(You gotta get it right, while you got the time)
('Cause when you close your heart)
You can't close your, your mind!
(Then you close your, mind!)
That man, that man, that man, that man
With the man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah!)
That man, that man, that man,
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Better change!)
You know, that man
No message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
(Take a look at yourself and then make the change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah
(Ooh)
Oh no, no no
I'm gonna make a change
It's gonna feel real good!
Come on!
(Change)
Just lift yourself
You know
You've got to stop it,
Yourself!
(Yeah! Make that change!)
I've got to make that change, today!
Hoo!
(Man in the mirror)
You got to
You got to not let yourself
Brother
Hoo!
(Yeah! Make that change!)
You know I've got to get
That man, that man
(Man in the mirror)
You've got to
You've got to move! Come on!
Come on!
You got to
Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!
(Yeah! Make that change)
Stand up and lift yourself, now!
(Man in the mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aw!
(Yeah! Make that change!)
Gonna make that change
Come on!
You know it!
You know it!
You know it!
You know it
(Change)
Make that change.
The lyrics of Jack Vidgen's song "Man in the Mirror" reflect the artist's determination to bring about positive change in the world. The song starts with Vidgen committing to making a change in his life, affirming that it will feel good and make a difference. He then reflects on the suffering of others that he has hitherto ignored, suggesting that society, too, is guilty of overlooking the needs of the less fortunate. The image of the broken dreams and discarded souls swept along by the wind carries the weight of social and moral indifference.
As the song progresses, Vidgen shifts his focus back to the central theme: transformation starting with the self. He calls upon the man he sees in the mirror to change his ways, recognizing that this is a prerequisite for making the world a better place by starting from the inside out. The repetition of the phrase "man in the mirror" throughout the song underscores its importance, and its emphasis on active responsibility with phrases such as "you've got to stop it yourself," "you've got to move," and "you've got to stand up," encourages listeners to take personal action.
Overall, the lyrics of "Man in the Mirror" advocate for introspection, empathy, and individual responsibility as the keys to bringing about a better world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna make a change,
For once I'm my life
It's gonna feel real good,
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
I am ready to make a change that matters, and it will be a one-of-a-kind experience. It's going to be fulfilling, I will create an impact, and I will do it correctly.
As I, turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowing my mind
I see the kids in the streets,
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind?
Pretending not to see their needs
As I wear my warm winter coat, the wind reminds me of how the kids living in the streets barely have something to eat. I cannot ignore their plight or pretend to not see the urgency of their needs.
A summer disregard,a broken bottle top
And a one man soul
They follow each other on the wind ya' know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know
Heartbreaking summer memories of littered bottle caps and crushed souls stuck in a cycle of poverty, following each other due to homelessness. This is the reason I am starting with the man in the mirror, to create a domino effect of change.
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)
(Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah)
I am starting my journey to bring change by looking at myself in the mirror and asking myself to change my ways. No other message is as clear as this if one desires to make the world a better place. It all starts by changing ourselves for the better.
I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It's time that I realize
That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone?
I understand that my experience of being selfishly loved is not universal. I must realize that others do not have homes, no money to their name, and no one to lean on. These are the people I cannot ignore, pretending they are not alone.
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed-out dream
(Washed-out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me
(Starting with me!)
A willow tree scarred forever, because of somebody else's broken heart and a dream that never materialized. Their fate moves with the wind, as they have no home or place to belong to. This is why I am making myself accountable to bring a change.
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)
It is I who I want to change first. This is why I am asking myself to do so. The message of making the world better could not be any more evident. It begins with looking at oneself and taking the initiative of making a change.
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Change his ways, ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that
(Take a look at yourself and then make that)
Change!
I keep emphasizing starting with myself, bringing a change where my ways must change too. To make the world better, this is the message that cannot be repeated enough. Self-examination and change will bring change in the world.
(Man in the mirror)
You've got to
You've got to move! Come on!
Come on!
You got to
Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!
(Yeah! Make that change)
Stand up and lift yourself, now!
(Man in the mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aw!
(Yeah! Make that change!)
Gonna make that change
Come on!
You know it!
You know it!
You know it!
You know it
(Change)
Make that change.
The urgency is clear, that we must move now and stand up for what is right. It is time to lift ourselves and make that change that will disrupt the status quo. We know what must be done, so let's do it - make that change!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Glen Ballard, Siedah Garrett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind