Wilder was one-half of the Greenwich Village folk group Matthew & Peter in the 1970s. In 1978 he moved to Los Angeles and sang for television commercials and backup for Rickie Lee Jones and Bette Midler.
Wilder's first album, I Don't Speak the Language (1983), reached number 49 on the Billboard chart, fueled by "Break My Stride", which reached number 5 on the singles chart. His second album, Bouncin' Off the Walls (1984), was a commercial failure.
Wilder continued his career as a songwriter and producer. His work includes producing the No Doubt's multi-platinum album Tragic Kingdom (1995). He lent his singing voice to the character of Ling and was nominated for an Academy Award for Original Music Score (along with David Zippel and Jerry Goldsmith) for his work on the Disney film Mulan (1998).
On Broadway, Wilder has once again paired with Zippel to provide the music and lyrics for Princesses, a musical comedy update of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel A Little Princess. The production opened on Broadway in November 2006.
Honor to Us All
Matthew Wilder Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, honey, I've seen worse
We're going to turn this sow's ear
Into a silk purse
We'll have you washed and dried
Primped and polished till you glow with pride
Trust my recipe for instant bride
Wait and see, when we're through
Boys will gladly go to war for you
With great fortune and a great hairdo
You'll bring honor to us all
A girl can bring her family
Great honor in one way
By striking a good match
And this could be that day
Men want girls with good taste
Calm, obedient, who work fast paced
With good breeding and a tiny waist
You'll bring honor to us all
We all must serve our Emperor
Who guards us from the Huns
A man by bearing arms
A girl by bearing sons
When we're through, you can't fail
Like a lotus blossom soft and pale
How could any fellow say "No sale"
You'll bring honor to us all
There, you're ready
Not yet
An apple for serenity
A pendant for balance
Beads of jade for beauty
You must proudly show it
Now add a cricket, just for luck
And even you can't blow it
Ancestors, hear my plea
Help me not to make a fool of me
And to not uproot my family tree
Keep my father standing tall
Scarier than the undertaker
We are meeting a matchmaker
Destiny, guard our girls
And our future as it fast unfurls
Please look kindly on these cultured pearls
Each a perfect porcelain doll
Please, bring honor to us
Please, bring honor to us
Please, bring honor to us
Please, bring honor to us
Please, bring honor to us all
The lyrics to Matthew Wilder's song "Honor to Us All" from Disney's Mulan reflects the traditional Chinese culture regarding arranged marriages and gender roles. The song is sung by the matchmaker (a woman who arranges marriages) as she primp and preps Fa Mulan for her meeting with a potential husband. Mulan's family is desperate to marry her off, so she can bring "honor" to their family, and the matchmaker is trying to use her skills to make Mulan presentable and desirable for potential suitors. The song reflects the message of what was expected of women in traditional Chinese society - to be calm, obedient, and work fast paced, with good breeding and a tiny waist. The importance of appearance and how it affects the impression you give to others, especially during a marriage arrangement, is also stressed in the lyrics.
The song also subtly reveals the societal expectations on men - that they were valued for their strength and their ability to bear arms and protect their country from invaders. The lyrics reflect the gender roles in Chinese society at the time as way for men and women to contribute to society and bring honor to their respective families.
The song "Honor to Us All" is an insightful commentary on Chinese society from the Mulan era. Despite being a Disney song, it reflects the complexity of a different culture, and its ideas regarding marriage and gender roles, that may not be immediately familiar or known to viewers.
Line by Line Meaning
This is what you give me to work with
Although this is not ideal, I will use it as a challenge.
Well, honey, I've seen worse
It is not as terrible as it seems, and I am capable of handling it.
We're going to turn this sow's ear
Into a silk purse
We will transform this into something beautiful.
We'll have you washed and dried
Primped and polished till you glow with pride
Trust my recipe for instant bride
You'll bring honor to us all
We will groom you until you look beautiful and confident. We have a set of thorough preparation procedures which will help you impress your potential husband.
Wait and see, when we're through
Boys will gladly go to war for you
With great fortune and a great hairdo
You'll bring honor to us all
After we make you attractive, men will be eager to court you, and you will be able to bring pride to our family.
A girl can bring her family
Great honor in one way
By striking a good match
And this could be that day
Girls can honor their families by marrying a wealthy, successful man, and this may be your opportunity to do so.
Men want girls with good taste
Calm, obedient, who work fast paced
With good breeding and a tiny waist
You'll bring honor to us all
Men desire women who are well-mannered, dutiful, and slim. If you embody these qualities, you will make us proud.
We all must serve our Emperor
Who guards us from the Huns
A man by bearing arms
A girl by bearing sons
We all have a duty to our country. Men fight off the invaders, but women bear children to continue the lineage.
When we're through, you can't fail
Like a lotus blossom soft and pale
How could any fellow say "No sale"
You'll bring honor to us all
We will train you to succeed. You will be so beautiful, gentle and kind that no man would want to pass you over.
An apple for serenity
A pendant for balance
Beads of jade for beauty
You must proudly show it
Now add a cricket, just for luck
And even you can't blow it
These gifts will help you maintain composure, decorum, and good luck on this important day. Proudly displaying them will help secure a good match.
Ancestors, hear my plea
Help me not to make a fool of me
And to not uproot my family tree
Keep my father standing tall
I call upon our ancestors to ensure that I do not tarnish the family's reputation and bring shame. Please help me make a good display and maintain our dignity.
Scarier than the undertaker
We are meeting a matchmaker
Destiny, guard our girls
And our future as it fast unfurls
Please look kindly on these cultured pearls
Each a perfect porcelain doll
Meeting with a matchmaker can be nerve-wracking. I pray to destiny that our girls will find good matches and secure a beautiful future. They are each delicate and beautiful, deserving of love and care.
Please, bring honor to us
Please, bring honor to us
Please, bring honor to us
Please, bring honor to us
Please, bring honor to us all
We implore each girl to bring pride and glory to our family.
Contributed by Nathaniel I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.