[ WP ] You have developed and ability to see how people will die when you look at them . Your entire life you avoided pictures of yourself , but today you forgot , and , brushing your teeth in the morning , looked in the mirror ...

Just another cold winter day. I looked in the mirror, still groggy from last night's drinking. I've not been sober much since June. This ghetto has robbed me of my hope and youth a long time ago. I rubbed my eyes and with stark realization, saw my time ticking down for the first time. My life flashed before my eyes. My parents fawning over me as I wrote my first words. My mother's tears trickling down her face as I was handed my diploma. My high school sweetheart giving my first kiss. The pride in my heart as I held my baby child. The fateful day when they were both taken from me as the truck swerved into my lane. The drinking, the estrangement, the fights, the arrests, the trips to the liquor store. 
 
 My life flashed before my eyes and the epiphany came upon me instantly. My old life may have ended but I'm not dead yet. I knew I could not live my crummy life forever. I wanted to be some one again. I want to achieve something with this short time I had left. I put on my coat into the winter chilled air with bold new expectations. One small step for mankind, one giant leap for me. Just once, I want to right a wrong, I want to make a difference, I want to make a change... no... I'm GOING to make a change. 
 
 I'm gon na make a change 
 For once in my life 
 It's gon na feel real good 
 Gon na make a difference 
 Gon na 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's disregard, a broken bottle top 
 And one man's soul ( 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 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'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 mean, 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 have 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 have been any clearer 
 If you want to make the world a better place 
 Take a look at yourself and then make the change ) 
 You got ta get it right, while you got the time 
 You ca n't close your, your mind! 
 
 ( Then you close your, mind! ) 
 That man, that man, that man, that man 
 With the man in the mirror 
 ( Man in the mirror, oh yeah! ) 
 That man, that man, that man 
 I'm asking him to change his ways 
 ( 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 
 hoo hoo hoo hoo 
 yeah yeah yeah yeah 
 
 Oh no, no no 
 
 I'm gon na make a change 
 It's gon na feel real good! 
 Chime 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! Make that change! ) 
 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 
 ( Change ) 
 Make that change
