Shadow of a Man
Mudvayne Lyrics


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Mirror mirror upon the wall I'm asking you,
Who is the most confused of them all?
Mirror mirror subservient twin screams back
At me "You".
You sick flawless mime, I want to break you
Yeah, you're a clever one

Is this a tool, can I step through, to find
Another plane,
Or just a shadow of a man
A superficial tool, to support the vanity,
Of weak, when you don't love yourself

If life's as painful on your side, I'll break your
Existence and cut through mine
You're a clever one

Is this a tool, can I step through, to find
Another plane,
Or just a shadow of a man
Are you my brother, you look like me,
Trapped inside another world my lost twin
A superficial tool, to support the vanity,
Of weak, when you don't love yourself

Mirror upon the wall, am I the reflection
Of you,
Mirror upon the wall, are you staring back
Through
Understanding has no place within my world
On your side

Is this a tool, can I step through, to find
Another plane,
Or just a shadow of a man
Are you my brother, you look like me,
Trapped inside another world my lost twin
Are you a tool, can I step through, to find
another plane,
I'm just a shadow of a man




Just a superficial tool, to support the vanity,
Of weak, when you don't love yourself

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mudvayne's "Shadow of a Man" express feelings of confusion, doubt, and disillusionment with the self. In the first verse, the singer asks the mirror who is the most confused person, and the mirror replies "You." This exchange demonstrates the internal conflict and self-doubt the singer is experiencing. The following lines express a desire to break the "sick flawless mime," which could be interpreted as the singer's idealized self-image or ego.


The chorus further explores the concept of identity and existence. The singer questions whether life is merely a superficial tool to support the vanity of the weak, particularly those who do not love themselves. The line "Is this a tool, can I step through, to find another plane?" suggests a search for a deeper meaning or purpose in life.


The second verse introduces the idea of a "lost twin" trapped in another world, possibly representing a sense of disconnect or alienation from the world and others. The final lines repeat the chorus, emphasizing the singer's feelings of being a mere shadow of a man.


Overall, the song portrays a struggle with self-identity and self-acceptance, and raises questions about the nature of existence and the search for a deeper meaning in life.


Line by Line Meaning

Mirror mirror upon the wall I'm asking you, Who is the most confused of them all?
I'm seeking clarity about who is struggling the most.


Mirror mirror subservient twin screams back At me "You".
The mirror reflects back that I am the most confused.


You sick flawless mime, I want to break you Yeah, you're a clever one
I am disgusted with the person I see in the mirror, and I recognize how cunning I am.


Is this a tool, can I step through, to find Another plane, Or just a shadow of a man A superficial tool, to support the vanity, Of weak, when you don't love yourself
I ponder whether the mirror can be used to transcend my current state or if it just reinforces my superficiality.


If life's as painful on your side, I'll break your Existence and cut through mine You're a clever one
If the person in the mirror is struggling too, I would destroy them and myself to break free.


Are you my brother, you look like me, Trapped inside another world my lost twin
I wonder if the person in the mirror is my lost twin, also trapped in a different reality.


Mirror upon the wall, am I the reflection Of you,
I question if the person in the mirror is actually the true version of myself.


Mirror upon the wall, are you staring back Through Understanding has no place within my world On your side
I question if the person in the mirror is really staring back at me, and I recognize that understanding is not present in their world.


Are you a tool, can I step through, to find another plane, I'm just a shadow of a man Just a superficial tool, to support the vanity, Of weak, when you don't love yourself
I realize that whether the mirror can be used as a tool or not, my reflection is just a superficial image that can only reinforce the vanity of an insecure person who does not love themselves.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHAD L. GRAY, GREG TRIBBETT, MATTHEW MCDONOUGH, RYAN MARTINIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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