Lil Wayne & Bruno Mars - R&B, Rap
Mirror by Lil Wayne & Bruno Mars Lyrics
4 Plays
Duration: 3:48
Story Behind the Song
Produced three years before its official release, "Mirror" arrived as the sixth and final single from Tha Carter IV on September 13, 2011, through Young Money, Cash Money, and Universal Republic Records. Lil Wayne co-wrote the track alongside Bruno Mars, Phillip Lawrence, and producer Ramon "REO" Owen of the Soundkillers, with additional co-production from the Smeezingtons. Owen secured the placement with assistance from Mike Caren. Musically, the hip-hop ballad sits in F Minor at 80 BPM, built around an eerie background wail and a smothered kick-and-snare pattern that reinforces its melancholy mood. Wayne draws direct inspiration from Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" in his verses, while also rapping candidly about his father. Bruno Mars contributes an emotionally raw hook centering on loyalty through hardship. Commercially, the song debuted at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling 149,000 copies in its first week, and has since earned four-times platinum certification from the RIAA.
Lyrics
[Intro: Lil Wayne] Uh, with everything happening today You don't know whether you're coming or going, but You think that ya on your way Life lined up on the mirror, don't blow it [Verse 1: Lil Wayne] Woah, look at me when I'm talking to you You looking at me but I'm looking through you I see the blood in your eyes I see the love in disguise I see the pain hidden in your pride I see you're not satisfied And I don't see nobody else I see myself, I'm looking at the [Chorus: Bruno Mars & Lil Wayne] Mirror on the wall (Woah) Here we are again (Yeah) Through my rise and fall (Uh) You've been my only friend (Yeah) You told me that they can Understand the man I am So why are we here Talking to each other again? [Verse 2: Lil Wayne] Uh, I see the truth in your lies I see nobody by your side But I'm with you when you're all alone And you correct me when I'm looking wrong I see the guilt beneath the shame I see your soul through your window pane I see the scars that remain I see Wayne, I'm lookin' at the [Chorus: Bruno Mars & Lil Wayne] Mirror on the wall Here we are again (Yeah) Through my rise and fall (Uh-huh) You've been my only friend (My only friend) You told me that they can Understand the man I am (They can't understand) So why are we here (Misunderstood) Talking to each other again? (Woah) [Verse 3: Lil Wayne] Looking at me now, I can see my past Damn, I look just like my fucking dad Light it up, that's smoke and mirrors I even look good in a broken mirror I see my mama smile, that's a blessing I see the change, I see the message And no message could've been any clearer So I'm starting with the man in the [Chorus: Bruno Mars & Lil Wayne] Mirror on the wall (MJ taught me that) Here we are again Through my rise and fall (Uh) You've been my only friend (Take 'em to Mars, man) You told me that they can Understand the man I am So why are we Talking to each other again? (Uh) Mirror on the wall (Woah) Here we are again (Yeah) Through my rise and fall You've been my only friend (Any questions?) You told me that they can (I come to you) Understand the man I am (You always have the answer) So why are we here Talking to each other again? [Outro: Bruno Mars & Lil Wayne] Mirror on the wall Hey B.P, looks like I did take 'em to Mars this time So why are we Talking to each other again?
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Meaning of "Mirror" by Lil Wayne
The lyrics to "Mirror" open with a stark, almost confrontational scene: a speaker addressing a "you" with intense scrutiny. There's an immediate sense of high stakes, as the intro warns, "Life lined up on the mirror, don't blow it." This sets a tone of urgent self-reflection. The initial verses cleverly mislead, making the listener believe the narrator is dissecting another person. However, the reveal, "I see myself," transforms the entire conversation into a profound internal monologue. This twist underscores a deep isolation, suggesting the mirror has been the narrator's "only friend" through "rise and fall," a constant, unblinking confidante. The craft truly shines in the layered observations, where the narrator sees beyond surface appearances. Phrases like "blood in your eyes" and "love in disguise," or "guilt beneath the shame," expose a complex internal landscape. These contrasts highlight the struggle to reconcile conflicting emotions and hidden truths within oneself, making the self-examination feel raw and unflinching. Ultimately, the lyrics depict a journey from intense self-criticism to a form of acceptance and resolve. The narrator confronts their past, even noting, "I look just like my fucking dad," before embracing a defiant self-acceptance, declaring, "I even look good in a broken mirror." The final commitment to change, echoing the sentiment of "starting with the man in the mirror," grounds this deeply personal struggle in a universal call for self-improvement.
This AI-assisted editorial analysis was reviewed, improved, and approved by the LyricsWeb editorial team.
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Credits
- Writers
- Lil Wayne
- Bruno Mars
- REO
- Philip Lawrence