He only auditioned after friends continually called and bugged him about it. Lusk sang "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and impressed the judges during his initial try-out. He works as a spa concierge.
Man in the Mirror
Jacob Lusk Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For once I'm my life
It's gonna feel real good
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right
And 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, somebody's broken heart
In one man soul
And they follow each other on the wind ya' know
'Cause they got no place 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
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
Change
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah, oh no
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
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me
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
Take a look at yourself, and then make a 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
Take a look at yourself and then make that change
I gotta get it right while I have the time
You can't close your, your mind, the man, 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
Take a look at yourself, and make that change
Change
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah, ooh, yeah, yeah, gonna make the change
The song "Man In The Mirror" by Michael Jackson is a powerful call to action, imploring listeners to take responsibility for their impact on the world and to work toward positive change. Jacob Lusk's cover of the song channelled this same message, urging listeners to "start with the man in the mirror" and make a difference.
The opening lines of the song express a determination to create change, and a recognition that this change will not only benefit others but also feel good for oneself. The next lines describe the singer's encounter with poverty and hunger, causing a realization of the need to actively confront these issues and not simply ignore them out of convenience or privilege. This section of the song is both empathetic and self-reflective, acknowledging that it is easy to overlook or forget about others' struggles when they do not directly impact oneself.
The second half of the song delves further into the singer's personal journey toward change, admitting past mistakes and selfishness and striving to be a better person. The repeated refrain of "starting with the man in the mirror" emphasizes the importance of individual responsibility, while the final lines assert the urgency of taking action before it is too late.
Overall, "Man In The Mirror" is a moving and inspiring song that challenges listeners to look inward and effect meaningful change both in their own lives and in the world at large.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna make a change
I am going to initiate a positive transformation
For once I'm my life
This is the first time I am making such a change for myself
It's gonna feel real good
I anticipate feeling fulfilled by making this change
Gonna make a difference
I am going to create an impact, no matter how small
Gonna make it right
I will rectify past mistakes
And as I, turn up the collar on, My favorite winter coat
As I prepare to brave the elements, I summon a positive attitude
This wind is blowing my mind
The harsh weather reminds me of less fortunate people
I see the kids in the streets, With not enough to eat
I come across hungry children who are struggling
Who am I to be blind?
I have no right to ignore their plight
Pretending not to see their needs
I cannot act as if everything is okay when it clearly isn't
A summer disregard, somebody's broken heart
Perhaps I have ignored people's suffering in the past
In one man soul
However, I realise I want better for our world
And they follow each other on the wind ya' know
It seems as though many individuals are struggling similarly
'Cause they got no place to go
These individuals do not have a safe space to be
That's why I want you to know
That why I need others to understand
I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I am beginning with myself
I'm asking him to change his ways
I am calling upon my own self to evolve
And no message could have been any clearer
This message can't be more explicit
If you want to make the world a better place
If you want to create a positive impact
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
Then start by working on yourself
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah, oh no
A melody to emphasise the significance of this message
I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love
I have acted selfishly in the past
It's time that I realize
However, that awareness is no longer acceptable
That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
I acknowledge that many people don't have basic necessities
Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone?
Am I ignoring that I can help them?
A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
I can witness the effects of difficult experiences on people's well-being
And a washed-out dream
Even after putting in hard work, some people might not see the fruits of their labour
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
Many people's hardships are due to larger systems beyond their control
'Cause they got no place to be
As a result, they often face significant obstacles in their lives
That's why I'm starting with me
That's why I need to initiate personal transformation
I gotta get it right while I have the time
I must take action while I still have the chance
You can't close your, your mind, the man, the man in the mirror
Changing begins with one's state of mind
And no message could have been any clearer
This message can't be more explicit
If you want to make the world a better place
If you want to create a positive impact
Take a look at yourself, and make that change
Create positive impact by growing yourself
Change
Positive transformation is essential
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah, ooh, yeah, yeah, gonna make the change
A melody to emphasise the significance of this message
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Glen Ballard, Siedah Garrett
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nuvamusic
I liked it. Solid vocals, true singer, true emotions. Believable. I used to hate his personality, but now I find him fun and very pleasant. He's just a big kid, sincere and spontaneous.
@nancydee6106
I still
Love this performance ❤
@lexsoft3969
I totally forgot he ever did this. It was a good cover.
@vetmamacita
It’s so funny. Now he’s beginning to blow up in a big way and it has nothing to do with American Idol.
The first time I heard Blame by Gabriels, I totally stopped. That voice! So fantastic! Versatile!
I do think he’s now miles above where he was 10 years ago as far as vocal style. Needed to mature to show his true versatility. Either due to immaturity or due to the AI mentors, he had the amazing voice but didn’t utilize it as deftly as now.
@savannahhodge2483
I still like Jacob on this song, he did it good to.
@davidespinosa1910
The woman singing with Jacob is Siedah Garrett, who co-wrote Man in the Mirror (with Glen Ballard).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siedah_Garrett
@BostonSportsGuy567
I thought it was really good. It's unfortunate he doesn't sound that good in studio.
@danielrivasiii6781
This song was his downfall. He performed the song very well but it was his comments before the song that sank him. It was something along the lines of "If I go home it's not because I sang bad, but it's because people weren't ready to look in the mirror" or something like that....and just like that his arrogance ruined his shot
@Cbluesrocker
Why are people hating on Jacob? I really liked him!
@hookmhornz32
haha yall dont anything about good singers. can you hear the range. the tone. the pitch.