Who wrote the lyrics for the songs in Mulan?

David Zippel wrote the lyrics for the songs in Disney’s 1998 animated film Mulan.

Zippel was hired alongside composer Matthew Wilder after Stephen Schwartz left the project. Together, Wilder and Zippel created the film’s principal songs, including “Reflection,” “Honor to Us All,” “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” “A Girl Worth Fighting For,” and “True to Your Heart.”

A common mix-up is confusing the lyricist with the composer or the orchestral scorer. Matthew Wilder composed the songs’ music, while Jerry Goldsmith wrote the film’s instrumental score. Alan Menken and Jerry Goldsmith were therefore not the lyricist answers, and Matthew Wilder was the composer rather than the lyricist.

Zippel’s work on Mulan followed his earlier Disney success as lyricist for the songs in Hercules. The Mulan soundtrack and songs helped earn recognition from major awards organizations, including an Academy Award nomination for the film’s musical score.