[Intro: solitary grand piano, distant room reverb] I bought another mirror Just to see if I had changed Hung it where the morning light Could flatter every angle of my face I practiced looking humble I perfected looking hurt Learned exactly when to lower my eyes And make sincerity look unrehearsed [Soft bass enters] Oh, what a charming little monster With such impeccable taste Building monuments to kindness With my name across the base [Pre-Chorus: drums begin climbing] And I know I know I know what I’m doing At least some of the time [Chorus: full band, huge stacked harmonies] I want to be good But I want to be adored I want to feed the hungry Then hear them chanting for an encore I want to give my love away With a spotlight on the act Is it generosity If I need the whole world looking back? [Backing vocals: “Looking back! Looking back!”] Oh, I want to be good God, I want to be good Even when the mirror loves me back [Instrumental flourish: piano run, guitar harmonics] [Verse 2: jaunty cabaret rhythm] I have sampled every pleasure Like a king afraid to die Wine and velvet, rooms with views And strangers telling beautiful lies I can turn desire to doctrine Make indulgence sound profound Call my appetite “experience” While another bottle makes the rounds [Half-time] I give advice on moderation From a table set for ten Tell myself that knowing my hypocrisy Means I’m somehow free of it [Pre-Chorus: theatrical vocal build] But I know I know I know that isn’t true Self-awareness isn’t virtue If awareness is all you do [Chorus: larger, choir harmonies] I want to be good But I want to be adored I want to save the drowning And have my portrait on the shore I want to lift somebody up Without measuring the height Without wondering if everyone Has noticed I was right [Backing vocals: “Was he right? Was he right?”] Oh, I want to be good God, I want to be good Even when I make myself the light [Post-Chorus: guitars drop out, voices only] [Layered vocals] Do you love them? Or being loved? Do you help them? Or need to be enough? Would you do it If nobody ever knew? [Lead, quietly] I don’t know But I want to [Instrumental Break: theatrical guitar solo over descending piano chords] [Bridge: slow, intimate] There are people I have cherished There are people I have used There are times I gave completely There are gifts that were disguised as dues There were apologies I offered Just to stop myself from shame There were wounds I helped to bandage Then secretly remembered who they’d blame [Music nearly stops] Maybe goodness isn’t purity Maybe nobody gets clean Maybe every act of mercy Has a little ego hiding in between [Single piano chord] But if a selfish heart can choose To leave somebody less alone Maybe that is somewhere I can start [Build: heartbeat kick drum] Maybe goodness is a practice Not a halo Not a throne [Explosive transition] [Final Chorus: massive operatic arrangement] I want to be good And yes, I want to be adored I want the velvet and the roses I want heaven keeping score But I can carry someone’s burden Even while I crave applause I can learn to love the person More than loving being loved [Choir: “Love them more! Love them more!”] I can close the door behind me I can give without a plaque I can leave a little kindness Where no praise can follow back [Key change] And I want to be good Not perfect, just good When nobody is watching what I do I want to be good When there’s nothing there to prove When the room has lost its audience And I still choose what is true [Break: silence] [Quiet lead vocal] And tomorrow When the mirror asks me Who I think I am I’ll say [Final crescendo] Someone trying! [Choir] TRYING! [Lead] Someone failing! [Choir] FAILING! [Lead] Someone vain enough to love himself But learning how to love somebody else! [Huge guitar chord] [Outro: piano and layered vocals fading] The mirror loves me back The mirror loves me back [Whispered harmony] But it doesn’t have to be The only one I love [Final piano chord]
