I'll Make A Man Out Of You
Mulan [OST] Lyrics
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Did they send me daughters when I asked for sons?
You're the saddest bunch I've ever met
But you can bet, before we're through
Mister, I'll make a man out of you
Tranquil as a forest, but on fire within
Once you find your center you are sure to win
And you haven't got a clue
Somehow I'll make a man out of you
Chien-Po: I'm never gonna catch my breath
Yao: Say good-bye to those who knew me
Ling: Boy I was a fool in school for cutting gym
Mushu: This guy's got 'em scared to death
Mulan: Hope he doesn't see right through me
Chien-Po: Now I really wish that I knew how to swim!
(Be a man)
You must be swift as the coursing river
(Be a man)
With all the force of a great typhoon
(Be a man)
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
Time is racing toward us 'til the Huns arrive
Heed my every order and you might survive
You're unsuited for the rage of war
So pack up, go home, you're through
How could I make a man out of you?
(Be a man)
You must be swift as the coursing river
(Be a man)
With all the force of a great typhoon
(Be a man)
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
(We are men)
We must be swift as the coursing river
(We are men)
With all the force of a great typhoon
(We are men)
With all the strength of a raging fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon!
"I'll Make a Man Out of You" from the Disney movie Mulan (1998) is sung by Captain Shang to his trainees at the camp. He observes that they are weak and not ready for war. But he believes that with his training, he can turn them into strong and brave men who will be able to fight the Huns. The lyrics of the song are primarily about the transformation of an individual from boyhood to manhood, with the subtext of being ready for war.
The opening lines “Let’s get down to business To defeat the Huns” set the tone of the song. The reference to daughters instead of sons is an indication of how the society was patriarchal, and the primary expectation from men was to fight at war. The phrase "Mister, I'll make a man out of you" reinforces the idea of masculinity, where being a man means being physically strong, brave, and capable of fighting.
The lyrics, "Tranquil as a forest, but on fire within, Once you find your center, you are sure to win" refer to the need for calmness, focus and inner strength in the face of danger. The lines "You're a spineless, pale, pathetic lot, And you haven't got a clue, Somehow I'll make a man out of you," show the tough love approach that the captain uses to motivate his trainees. The lines after that are individual responses from the trainees, showing how they are struggling in their own ways to be fit for the job. The chorus, "Be a man" is the driving force behind the lyrics and motivates the trainees to work hard and achieve their goal.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's get down to business to defeat the Huns
Let's focus on the task at hand, which is to vanquish the Huns
Did they send me daughters when I asked for sons?
Were the soldiers they sent me weaker than I expected?
You're the saddest bunch I've ever met
You have not impressed me with your soldiering skills so far
But you can bet, before we're through Mister, I'll make a man out of you
You will become a better soldier, I guarantee it
Tranquil as a forest, but on fire within
Appear calm and collected, but be passionate and driven inside
Once you find your center you are sure to win
When you have focus and purpose, you can achieve victory
You're a spineless pale pathetic lot
You lack the courage and strength needed for battle
And you haven't got a clue
You don't have an idea of what it takes to be a good soldier
Somehow I'll make a man out of you
I will teach and mold you into a capable and strong fighter
Now I really wish that I knew how to swim!
I regret not having the skills necessary to survive in this situation
You must be swift as the coursing river
You need to move and react quickly like the swift flow of a river
With all the force of a great typhoon
You need to have the strength and power of a raging typhoon
With all the strength of a raging fire
You must have the endurance and resilience of a burning fire
Mysterious as the dark side of the moon
You must also have an aura of enigma and intrigue that makes you unpredictable
Time is racing toward us till the Huns arrive
We need to prepare quickly because the Huns are approaching quickly
Heed my every order and you might survive
Listen to me and you might make it out of this alive
You're unsuited for the rage of war
You are not fit to handle the chaos and violence of a battlefield
So pack up, go home, you're through
You should just leave and not fight in this battle
We are men
We are strong and capable fighters
Contributed by Ruby D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.