Man in the Mirror
Sam & Finn Lyrics


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I'm just a nihilist
So indecisive
Did the wrong degree
Because the money was enticing

But fuck me I was young
I was just tryna avoid a crisis
Listening to my teachers
And addicted to devices

So I'm sat here writing songs
Just trying to unwind
Might go to see some monks
They could teach me peace of mind

And I'm damn hard
But this life is so unkind
Why is one man forgotten and the other gets enshrined

I don't wanna fall behind
I feel so confined
I worry about what I'll leave behind
I'm just a man in Mankind

Why do all my songs
Have to sound the fucking same
I lack artistic vision
And need to change my name

But I'm no David Bowie
And that's really quite shame
I'm looking up to Starman
That's where I'm tryna aim

Still sat here writing songs
Unable to unwind
I need those fucking monks
Or else this song falls out of time

And I'm trying damn hard
But my mental state's declined
Why is one man forgotten and the other gets enshrined

I don't wanna fall behind
I feel so confined
I worry about what I'll leave behind
I'm just a man in Mankind

I'll be sleeping on my pension
Just dreaming about the times
Where all I really wanted
Was just to make some rhymes

But then my eyes go wide
As I come to realise
That I'm sleeping on my own
No family to call home

And all you really are
Is a man in Mankind
Nobody stood beside you
No one to leave behind

I don't wanna fall behind
I feel so confined




I worry about what I'll leave behind
I'm just a man in Mankind

Overall Meaning

The song "Man in the Mirror" by Sam & Finn is a reflection on the struggles of finding one's place in the world and making a mark in their lifetime. The lyrics paint a picture of disillusionment, regret, and uncertainty, as the singer grapples with their past decisions and perceived shortcomings.


The opening lines of the song, "I'm just a nihilist, so indecisive, did the wrong degree because the money was enticing," sets the mood for the rest of the song. The singer is expressing their dissatisfaction with their current state of being, feeling as though they made the wrong choices in life based on external factors such as financial gain rather than passion.


The chorus, with the repeated lines "I don't wanna fall behind, I feel so confined, I worry about what I'll leave behind, I'm just a man in Mankind," encapsulates the main message of the song. The singer is searching for meaning and purpose, feeling as though they are just a small piece in the grand scheme of things, struggling to find their place in the world.


Throughout the song, the singer also references the idea of seeking peace of mind through external sources such as monks, drugs, or changing their name. The repetition of these ideas emphasizes the singer's desperate search for answers and solutions to their problems.


Overall, "Man in the Mirror" is a poignant exploration of the human condition and the struggles we all face in finding our place in the world.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm just a nihilist
I don't believe in anything


So indecisive
I can't make up my mind


Did the wrong degree
I studied the wrong thing in school


Because the money was enticing
Because I thought it would make me rich


But fuck me I was young
But I was stupid and naive


I was just tryna avoid a crisis
I was trying to prevent a problem


Listening to my teachers
Taking instructions from my educators


And addicted to devices
And I was obsessed with technology


So I'm sat here writing songs
Now I'm writing music


Just trying to unwind
Trying to relax


Might go to see some monks
Thinking of visiting some monks


They could teach me peace of mind
They could help me find mental stability


And I'm damn hard
And I'm trying my best


But this life is so unkind
But life can be cruel


Why is one man forgotten and the other gets enshrined
Why does one person get forgotten while another is remembered forever?


I don't wanna fall behind
I don't want to fail


I feel so confined
I feel trapped


I worry about what I'll leave behind
I'm concerned about what I'll be remembered for


I'm just a man in Mankind
I'm just one person among many


Why do all my songs
Why do my songs


Have to sound the fucking same
All sound identical


I lack artistic vision
I don't have creative imagination


And need to change my name
And I should alter my identity


But I'm no David Bowie
But I'm not as talented as David Bowie


And that's really quite shame
And that's really unfortunate


I'm looking up to Starman
I'm taking inspiration from David Bowie's alter ego Starman


That's where I'm tryna aim
That's what I'm aiming for


Still sat here writing songs
Still writing music


Unable to unwind
Still unable to relax


I need those fucking monks
I really need those monks


Or else this song falls out of time
Or else this song won't be relevant anymore


And I'm trying damn hard
And I'm really putting in effort


But my mental state's declined
But I'm struggling with my mental health


I'll be sleeping on my pension
I'll be living off my retirement savings


Just dreaming about the times
Thinking of the past


Where all I really wanted
Where my only wish was


Was just to make some rhymes
Was just to write lyrics


But then my eyes go wide
But then I suddenly realize


As I come to realise
As I finally understand


That I'm sleeping on my own
That I'll be alone


No family to call home
Without anyone to care for


And all you really are
And all you ultimately are


Is a man in Mankind
Is just one person in a larger society




Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Sam Philpott

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@laianesantos6968

I'm gonna make a change,
For once I'm my life
It's gonna feel real good,
Gonna make a difference
Gonna make it right

As I, turn up the collar on
My favorite winter coat
This wind is blowing my mind
I see the kids in the streets,
With not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind?
Pretending not to see their needs

A summer disregard, a broken bottle top
And a one man soul
They follow each other on the wind ya' know
'Cause they got nowhere to go
That's why I want you to know

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
I'm asking him to change his ways
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)
(Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah)

I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love
It's time that I realize
That there are some with no home, not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me, pretending that they're not alone?

A willow deeply scarred, somebody's broken heart
And a washed-out dream
(Washed-out dream)
They follow the pattern of the wind ya' see
'Cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me
(Starting with me!)

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
(Take a look at yourself, and then make a change)

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(Ooh!)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Change his ways, ooh!)
And no message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make that
(Take a look at yourself and then make that)
Change!

I'm starting with the man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah!)
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Better change!)
No message could have been any clearer
(If you want to make the world a better place)

You can't close your, your mind!
(Then you close your, mind!)
That man, that man, that man, that man
With the man in the mirror
(Man in the mirror, oh yeah!)
That man, that man, that man,
I'm asking him to change his ways
(Better change!)
You know, that man
No message could have been any clearer
If you want to make the world a better place
(If you want to make the world a better place)
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
(Take a look at yourself and then make the change)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Na na na, na na na, na na, na nah
(Ooh)
Oh no, no no

I'm gonna make a change
It's gonna feel real good!
Come on!
(Change)
Just lift yourself
You know
You've got to stop it,
Yourself!
(Yeah! Make that change!)
I've got to make that change, today!
Hoo!
(Man in the mirror)
You got to
You got to not let yourself
Brother
Hoo!
(Yeah! Make that change!)
You know I've got to get
That man, that man

You've got to
You've got to move! Come on!
Come on!
You got to

Stand up! Stand up! Stand up!
(Yeah! Make that change)
Stand up and lift yourself, now!
(Man in the mirror)
Hoo! Hoo! Hoo!
Aw!
(Yeah! Make that change!)
Gonna make that change

Come on!
You know it!
You know it!
You know it!
You know it
(Change)
Make that change.



@ilphi08

+kokshing lee
I love HSM too,but they were meant for children
Glee deals with real problems that actually exists,and people can be cruel and insensitive
So it makes the emotion in Glee much more realistic
HSM only deal with like Finn said "easy pain"
Every people in it always nice and jolly and even mean person can turn nice overnight
Every obstacles can be magically worked out before the end,every bitterness and sourness can be melt away in harmony
I literally grew up with High School Musicals,I started watching Glee not until I was in college
But that doesn't take away the fact that Glee is a more excellent show with more true emotions than High School Musicals



All comments from YouTube:

@Ana-hm4zl

Just seeing 5 of them in a line is just iconic

@Her-jg4wl

Yes!

@prometheus_arrow

legendary

@bry6080

Artie/Kevin McHale is so underrated! He has the widest vocal range out of all the glee guys.

@majormana1

Yup and his voice can actually hit the highest notes of guys I recently realized Artie/Kevin's high note and they where not pushing him to the limit is higher then Kurt/Chris's.

@RyanBrowne01

I wouldn't say his is the widest, but definitely the best sounding! Chris Colfer can actually sing super low (listen to Give Up the Funk) and super high (listen to legit any of his songs)

@Jaden-if4me

He does but vocally blaine probably has the best vocals his where better then all the glee guys

@tomidrac9719

I'd argue that Blaine Kurt and even Sam have a wider vocal range

@KT926

He's my favourite male singer of the Glee cast, they're all amazing but Kevin is phenomenal!

5 More Replies...

@stacym735

This was Glee at its absolute best. Those young men dropped all the pretense and just sang their butts off. SO good!

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