About The Song
“Man in the Mirror” is a song by the American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson. It was written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett and produced by Quincy Jones and co-produced by Jackson. It was released in January 1988, as the fourth single from Jackson’s seventh solo album, Bad (1987).
“Man in the Mirror” topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, becoming Jackson’s tenth number-one single on the chart, and was certified 3× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was nominated for Record of the Year at the 31st Grammy Awards.
The song peaked at number 21 in the UK Singles Chart upon release in 1988, but in 2009, following the news of Jackson’s death, the song peaked at number 2. Keeping the gospel choir arrangement, the song was remixed for the soundtrack of Jackson’s tribute tour Immortal.
An instrumental version of the song was played at the end of Jackson’s memorial service.
“Man in the Mirror” was written by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett. Jackson’s producer, Quincy Jones, invited Garrett to his home with a group of other songwriters and asked them to write material for Jackson’s next album. Garrett recalled that Jones told the group: “I just want hits, that’s all I want.”
Garrett took the brief to Ballard, her writing partner, who began playing a keyboard figure; Garrett wrote the lyrics. The two recorded a demo over the course of a week, with Garrett on vocals. Garrett delivered the tape to Jones, who called back a few hours later to tell her he approved. At Jackson’s request, Garrett and Ballard wrote a longer middle eight and modified the lyrics. Jones enlisted the Andraé Crouch Choir to record gospel vocals.
The song runs for 5 minutes and 19 seconds and the sheet music for the song shows the key of G major. 2 minutes and 53 seconds into the song, the key changes to A-flat major.
Video
Lyrics
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
I’m starting with the man in the mirror
I’m asking him to change his ways
And no message could’ve been any clearer
If they 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 (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
I’m starting with the man in the mirror (oh)
I’m asking him to change his ways (oh)
And no message could’ve been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
I’m starting with the man in the mirror (oh)
I’m asking him to change his ways (oh)
And no message could’ve been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then 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’ve been any clearer
(If you wanna make the world a better place)
(Take a look at yourself and then make the change)
you can’t
(Then you close your) close your, your mind
With the man in the mirror, oh yeah
I’m asking him to change his ways (better change)
No message could’ve been any clearer
If you wanna make the world a better place
Take a look at yourself and then make a change
gonna feel real good now
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)
I’ve got to make that change today
(Man in the mirror) you got to
You got to not let yourself brother
(Yeah) you know
(Make that change) 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 (yeah, make that change)
Stand up
Stand up and lift
Yourself, now
(Man in the mirror)
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