Michael Jackson‘s 1988 hit “Man in the Mirror” is about deciding that real change has to start with yourself before it can spread anywhere else. He looks at the suffering around him and commits to fixing his own behavior first, rather than waiting for others to act.
Below is a section-by-section breakdown of the lyrics in “Man in the Mirror.”
- Song: Man in the Mirror
- Artist: Michael Jackson
- Songwriters: Siedah Garrett, Glen Ballard
- Released: 1988
- Album: Bad
- Genre: Pop, Gospel
What is “Man in the Mirror” About?
Verse 1: Deciding to Stop Looking Away
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
He wants to help people, but he’s doing this for himself too.
Saying it’ll feel good probably means both that it’ll feel good to see other people being helped, and it’ll feel good to do the helping.
As I turned up the collar on my favorite winter coat
This wind is blowin’ my mind
He’s bundled up against the cold, something he doesn’t have to think twice about.
Noticing the wind is what stops him long enough to start thinking about people who don’t have that same protection.
I see the kids in the street with not enough to eat
Who am I to be blind, pretending not to see their needs?
Seeing the poor and malnourished kids puts everything into perspective.
He’s questioning why he, like most people, turns a blind eye to the suffering around him.
Pre-Chorus 1: Watching Hope Slip Away
A summer’s disregard, a broken bottle top
And one man’s soul
Summer here represents comfort and carelessness, and ignoring whatever doesn’t affect you.
A broken bottle top can’t hold anything in, matching someone who has nothing left keeping them together.
They follow each other on the wind, ya know
‘Cause they got nowhere to go
That’s why I want you to know
Most of the people who are suffering don’t have a plan or a way out. That’s what drives him to act.
Chorus: Holding Himself Accountable
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
Rather than blaming the world, he knows that change begins with the individual.
If he wants things to change, he has to make the first move.
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
His new philosophy is that fixing the world starts with fixing yourself.
Everyone waiting around for someone else to go first is what prevents real change from happening.
Verse 2: Recognizing His Blind Spot
I’ve been a victim of a selfish kinda love
It’s time that I realize
“Selfish kinda love” means his past actions were driven by self-interest rather than compassion.
This is his first step toward tweaking his outlook.
There are some with no home
Not a nickel to loan
Could it be really me pretending that they’re not alone?
Listing these things off is his way of recognizing the day-to-day reality of the poor people he sees on the streets.
His focus is on his own selfishness, but he’s now recognizing that most other people do the same thing.
A willow deeply scarred, somebody’s broken heart
And a washed-out dream
The willow is often used to represent grief.
All of these words represent the feelings that many on the streets feel. They could also be the reasons why they ended up there.
They follow the pattern of the wind, ya see
‘Cause they got no place to be
They’re doing their best to stay alive and warm, but there’s only so much that they can do. Their goal is survival, but it’s obviously tough.
That’s why I’m starting with me
After realizing the hardships of those on the streets, he once again realizes that the only thing he can control is the way he reacts, so he decides to do what he can.
Bridge: Asking Others to Look in the Mirror
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make the change
He wants others to do what he’s doing. If you don’t stop for a second to think about how you can help make the world better, you’ll never do anything about it.
You gotta get it right while you got the time
It’s very easy to put things off, especially when those things have nothing to do with you or the people you care about.
‘Cause when you close your heart
Then you close your mind
Refusing to care about those in need also limits how well you can understand them. One shuts down along with the other.
“Man in the Mirror” Song Meaning: Change Starts Within
“Man in the Mirror” is about a man who sees all the suffering around him and decides that it’s finally time to do his part to fix it. He stops blaming circumstances and starts blaming his own choices.
Everything in the song points back to one idea: change starts with the individual. He’s not asking anyone to solve all the problems out there, just to stop looking away from them.
Songs Like “Man in the Mirror”
Here are some songs with similar themes:
1. “Heal the World” by Michael Jackson
In “Heal the World,” MJ imagines what could change if people committed to making things better for the next generation instead of waiting on someone else to do it.
Related: Best Songs About Peace
2. “Where Is the Love?” by Black Eyed Peas
“Where Is the Love?” is a song about global issues like violence, discrimination, and greed. The Black Eyed Peas challenge listeners to take action rather than ignoring the problems.
3. “Imagine” by John Lennon
In this classic, Lennon envisions a world without division or hate. While “Man in the Mirror” focuses on personal change, “Imagine” expands the idea to a world-changing movement.
Related: What is the Song “Imagine” About?
Final Thoughts
“Man in the Mirror” was one of the first non-love songs that really clicked with me when I was a kid. Even now, it’s one of the few songs that can stop me and get me thinking about what I’m actually doing for the people around me. It’s an extremely powerful pop song.
Check out more 1980s Song Interpretations!
