LYRIC
——–
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 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
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change
Na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na, na-na

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

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
Take a look at yourself, and then make a change

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 you want to 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 want to 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
You can't close your, your mind!

That man, that man (With the man in the mirror)
That man, that man (Oh, yeah!)
That man, that man (I'm asking him to change his ways)
That man (Better change!)

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 the change

Na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na, na-na
Gonna feel real good
Na-na-na, na-na-na
Na-na, na-na

I'm gonna make a change
It's gonna feel real good!
Chime on!
(Change)

Just lift yourself
You know
You've got to stop it
Yourself!

I've got to make that change, today!
Hoo!
(Man in the mirror)

You got to
You got to not let yourself
Brother
Hoo!

You know, I've got to get
That man, that man
(Man in the mirror)

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

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

You know it!
You know it!
You know it!
You know it!

Make that change
———————–
"Man in the Mirror" was composed by Glen Ballard and Siedah Garrett. Jackson added background vocals from Garrett, the Winans and the Andraé Crouch Choir. The song is said to have been one of Jackson's favorite songs. Arranged with a gospel choir, Jackson would use a gospel choir again several years later on his hit "Will You Be There". Siedah Garrett also sang Jackson's duet "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" in mid-1987. The song is played in the keys of G major and A♭ major at a tempo of 100 bpm. The vocal range is E3–G♯5.

The single sleeve for "Man in the Mirror" contains a dedication to Yoshiaki Ogiwara, a five-year-old boy from Takasaki, Gunma, Japan who was kidnapped and murdered in September 1987. Jackson was touring Japan at the time and dedicated concerts in Osaka and Yokohama to Yoshiaki's memory.