Reflection
Matthew Wilder & David Zippel And Christina Aguilera (Children's) 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
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?
"Reflection" is an emotionally powerful song that explores the internal conflict of a person who feels like they are living a double-life. The opening lines "Look at me, You may think you see who I really am, but you'll never know me" suggest that the person is not comfortable with their own identity and is constantly putting on a façade to please others. The metaphor of wearing a mask to fool the world is a common one - suggesting that the person is not comfortable with their authentic self and is living in a world that values conformity. The use of the line "But I cannot fool my heart" suggests that despite their best efforts, the person is aware of the tension between who they are and who they feel they ought to be.
The main refrain of the song "Who is that girl I see, Staring straight back at me?" is a poignant reflection of the emotional conflict that the singer is experiencing. They are living in a world where they feel like they must hide their true self and conform to an image that is expected of them. The song encourages the singer to break free from the constraints of society and be true to themselves - "I won't pretend that I'm someone else for all time, When will my reflection show who I am inside?"
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the importance of being true to oneself, even in a world that encourages conformity. It encourages people to break free from the constraints of society and be true to themselves, no matter what others might think.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me
Pay attention to me
You may think you see
You might have an idea of who I am
Who I really am
My true self
But you'll never know me
But you can never truly know me
Every day
Each and every day
It's as if I play a part
It feels like I'm acting a role
Now I see
Now I understand
If I wear a mask
If I put on a facade
I can fool the world
I can deceive everyone around me
But I cannot fool
But I cannot deceive
My heart
My own heart
Who is that girl I see
Who is that girl staring back at me?
Staring straight
Looking right at me
Back at me?
Reflecting back at me?
When will my reflection show
When will I truly see
Who I am inside?
My true self lying within me?
I am now
Here in the present
In a world where I
Living in a society where I
Have to hide my heart
Must conceal my true feelings
And what I believe in
And my own beliefs
But somehow
But I know
I will show the world
I will let everyone know
What's inside my heart
What my true feelings are
And be loved for who I am
And be accepted for my true self
Why is my reflection
Why does my reflection
Someone I don't know?
Appear like a stranger to me?
Must I pretend that I'm
Do I have to act like
Someone else for all time?
A different person my entire life?
There's a heart that must
There is a heart that is longing
Be free to fly
To be liberated and soar
That burns with a need
That is filled with desire
To know the reason why
To understand the purpose behind it all
Why must we all conceal
Why do we all hide
What we think, how we feel?
Our deepest thoughts and emotions?
Must there be a secret me
Do I need to keep a part of myself hidden away?
I'm forced to hide?
That I am compelled to keep hidden?
I won't pretend that I'm
I refuse to put on the facade that I'm
Someone else
A different person
For all time
Forever
When will my reflection show
When will I finally see
Who I am inside?
That my true self is all that matters?
Contributed by Jordan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.