The Most Important Songs of the Rock Era: Songs That Changed the World--"Man in the Mirror" by Michael Jackson

If we are to do the things we've talked about since September 1 on this blog, the things that make a difference to ourselves, to our families and friends, to our cities, our country and the world there is one thing that we all have to do--start with The Man (or Woman) in the Mirror.  Michael Jackson breaks it down to its most simple form--we must change ourselves in order to make the world a better place.  It is up to the individual.

"Man in the Mirror"

by Michael Jackson

Written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett

I'm gonna' make a change,
For once in 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 blowin' my mind
I see the kids in the street,
with not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind?
Pretending not to see
their needs
A summer's disregard,
A broken bottle top
And a one man's soul
They follow each other on
The wind ya' know
'Cause they got nowhere
to go
That's why I want you to
know

Chorus:
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 wanna' make the world
a better place
Take a look at yourself, and
then make a change


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
 They follow the pattern of
the wind, ya' see
cause they got no place to be
That's why I'm starting with me

(Chorus)


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 wanna' make the world
a better place
Take a look at yourself
and make that change.


I'm starting with the 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 wanna' make the world 
a better place,
take a look at yourself and then make the change,


You gotta' get it right
while you got the time.
'Cause when you close your heart
You can't close your...your mind.


The man, the man, the man
The man in the mirror..
I'm asking him to change his ways.
The man, the man, the man
No message could have been any clearer--
If you wanna' make the world
a better place,
Take a look at yourself
and then make a change.


Hoo!  Hoo!  Hoo!
Na na na, na na na, na na na nah,
Gonna' feel real good
Yeah!  Yeah!
Yeah!  Yeah!
Yeah!  Yeah!


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!) You know...make that change
I've got to get that man, the man, the man,


You've got to...you've got to move!
Come on!  Come on!
You got to...
Stand up!  Stand up!  (Make that change!) Stand up!


Stand up and lift yourself now.  
(man in the mirror)
Hoo!  Hoo!  Hoo!
Aaow!!!!
(Yeah, make that change!)


Gonna' make that change,
Come on!
(man in the mirror)
You know it!
You know it!
You know it!
You know...


(Change...)
Make that change.