Reflection

Reflection is the theme song from the 1998 Disney animated feature film, Mulan. The song was originally recorded by Lea Salonga in her role as the singing voice of Mulan. The song was orginally much longer but parts were cut to save time in the movie. The original version was recorded but never put to animation.

The song is performed, after Mulan returns home following a failed attempt to impress her matchmaker. The lyrical content expresses the way Mulan feels about wanting to show the world who she really is, instead of pretending to be who she is not, but is afraid to do so. This scene takes place at Mulan's home in it's surrounding gardens and ends in her family temple, where she removes her makeup to reveal her true appearance.

Lyrics
Look at me, I will never pass for a perfect bride, or a perfect daughter. Can it be, I'm not meant to play this part. Now I see, that if I were truly to be myself, I would break my family's heart. Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me? Why is my reflection someone I don't know? Somehow I cannot hide, who I am, though I've tried. When will my reflection show, who I am inside? When will my reflection show, who I am inside?

Full Version Lyrics Sung by Lea Salonga
Look at me, I may never pass for a perfect bride, or a perfect daughter. Can it be, I'm not meant to play this part? Now I see, that if I were truly to be myself, I would break my family's heart. Who is that girl I see, staring straight back at me? Why is my reflection someone I don't know? Who is that perfect bride? It's not me, though I've tried. When will my reflection show, who I am, inside? How I pray, that a time will come, I can free myself, from their expectations On that day, I'll discover someway to be myself, and to make my family proud. They want a docile lamb, No-one knows who I am. Must there be a secret me, I'm forced to hide? Must I pretend that I am someone else for all time? When will my reflection show, who I am inside? When will my reflection show, who I am inside?

Trivia

 * There are deleted parts of the song because Disney have to save time for the movie.
 * Lea Salonga sung the long version of Reflection on the Disney Expo right after she recieved the Disney Legend Award for being the singing voice of Jasmine and Mulan.