Reflection
Matthew Wilder & David Zippel and Christina Aguilera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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? oh
The song "Reflection" expresses the conflict between how one presents themselves to the world versus who they truly are on the inside. The first verse describes the act of wearing a mask to fool the world and how it is tiring to keep up the facade. The chorus asks the question, "Who is that girl I see?" - referring to the reflection in the mirror. The singer doesn't recognize themselves and wants to reveal their true self instead of someone they have to pretend to be. The second verse further highlights the struggle of hiding one's heart and beliefs in a world that doesn't accept them. The bridge asks why we must conceal our thoughts and feelings, posing the question, "Must there be a secret me I'm forced to hide?"
The lyrics perfectly capture the struggle of self-discovery and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. The song was initially written for the 1998 Disney film Mulan, where it was sung by the character of the same name. Christina Aguilera's version was recorded for the film's soundtrack and served as her debut single. The song was a massive hit, reaching the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and garnering a nomination for Best Original Song at the 1999 Academy Awards.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at me
Perceive me with your eyes
You may think you see
You might believe that you understand me
Who I really am
My true identity
But you'll never know me
However, you will never actually comprehend me
Every day
On a daily basis
It's as if I play a part
It seems as if I am acting
Now I see
Currently, I understand
If I wear a mask
If I put on a facade
I can fool the world
I can deceive everyone
But I cannot fool my heart
Nevertheless, I cannot deceive myself
Who is that girl I see
Who is the female in the mirror?
Staring straight back at me?
Gazing directly at me
When will my reflection show
When will I be able to see my true self
Who I am inside?
Who I truly am deep down?
I am now
At present, I exist
In a world where I
In an environment where I
Have to hide my heart
Have to keep my emotions hidden
And what I believe in
As well as my opinions
But somehow
Nevertheless, in some way
I will show the world
I will display to the entire world
What's inside my heart
What is within my spirit
And be loved for who I am
And be accepted for who I truly am
Why is my reflection
Why does my likeness
Someone I don't know?
Appear unfamiliar to me?
Must I pretend that I'm
Do I need to feign that I am
Someone else for all time?
Someone else for eternity?
When will my reflection show
When will I perceive the true me?
Who I am inside?
Who I genuinely am on the inside?
There's a heart that must be
There is a spirit that ought to be
Free to fly
Permitted to soar
That burns with a need to know
That fervently desires to know
The reason why
The justification behind it all
Why must we all conceal
Why do all of us need to hide
What we think, how we feel?
Our thoughts and emotions?
Must there be a secret me
Is it necessary to keep an undisclosed identity?
I'm forced to hide?
That I am obligated to keep hidden?
I won't pretend that I'm
I refuse to act as though I am
Someone else for all time
Someone else for forever
When will my reflection show
When will I be able to perceive the true me?
Who I am inside?
Who I actually am deep down? Oh
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: David Zippel, Matthew Wilder
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thea Thea
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?
Inside
Who I am inside
bubblegum chewing
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?
Oh yeah...
Panda InTheHouse
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?
Inside
Who I am inside
ufu.💕
She sounds so innocent here. The 2020 version just hits different. Christina’s voice has so much more depth, maturity, and dimension.
Stephanie
I am mindblown by her amazing singing talent at such a young age!
Lauren Smith
This will always b my favorite song of hers because she really sung this song with compassion
D W
Passion, not compassion
Lauren Smith
@D W thanks for the correction
ジン
it's not her song tho. original singer is lea salonga
Lauren Smith
o ok Christina did a good job tho
Red Shirt
@ジン I mean they both sung it for the movie, Lea’s was for Mulan’s scene in the movie and Christina’s was for the credits
BboyJohn Anytimesoon
I am not a woman but this song make you tear. The way she sang it , the delivery is perfect. The feeling of you want to burst and break free of pretending .
Tula
It’s okay for males to cry! Burst free if you must! ❤