The 5 Most Chilling Secrets Hidden In The "Evil Like Me" Lyrics (10-Year Anniversary Deep Dive)

As we approach the end of 2025, marking the 10th anniversary of the Disney Channel Original Movie (DCOM) phenomenon, *Descendants*, the song "Evil Like Me" remains a masterpiece of musical villainy and a cornerstone of the franchise's success. This iconic duet, featuring the powerhouse vocals of Kristin Chenoweth as Maleficent and Dove Cameron as her daughter Mal, is more than just a catchy tune; it’s a chilling, psychological exploration of intergenerational trauma and the pressure to live up to a villainous legacy. The lyrics, penned by the late, great Adam Schlesinger, weave a narrative that is both darkly humorous and genuinely emotional, providing the deepest look into Mal and Maleficent's complicated mother-daughter relationship. Released in 2015, "Evil Like Me" is arguably the most theatrical track on the *Descendants* soundtrack, serving as a critical plot point where Maleficent attempts to manipulate Mal into stealing the Fairy Godmother's wand. The song captures a pivotal moment of self-doubt for Mal and a desperate, narcissistic attempt at control by Maleficent, making every line of the lyric sheet a roadmap to their twisted family dynamic. With the franchise continuing to evolve with new installments like *Descendants: The Rise of Red* in 2025, a deep dive into the original villain anthem reveals why its words still resonate with fans worldwide a decade later.

The Villains' Duet: Full "Evil Like Me" Lyrics and Cast Profile

"Evil Like Me" is the second track on the *Descendants* Original TV Movie Soundtrack. It is the only true villain song in the first movie, setting a high bar for the subsequent entries in the trilogy. The song’s structure is a conversational back-and-forth, perfectly illustrating the clash between Maleficent's over-the-top, theatrical villainy and Mal's reluctant, insecure rebellion.

Song and Performer Details

• Song Title: Evil Like Me
• Movie: Descendants (2015)
• Performers: Kristin Chenoweth (Maleficent) and Dove Cameron (Mal)
• Songwriter/Composer: Adam Schlesinger
• Genre: Disney Villain Pop/Broadway
• Album: Descendants (Original TV Movie Soundtrack)

Key Cast and Characters (Entities)

• Kristin Chenoweth: Plays Maleficent, the main antagonist of *Sleeping Beauty* and Mal's mother.
• Dove Cameron: Plays Mal, the daughter of Maleficent and a VK (Villain Kid).
• Cameron Boyce: Played Carlos, son of Cruella de Vil (Entity: Cruella de Vil).
• Booboo Stewart: Plays Jay, son of Jafar (Entity: Jafar).
• Sofia Carson: Plays Evie, daughter of The Evil Queen (Entity: The Evil Queen).
• Mitchell Hope: Plays Ben, son of King Beast and Queen Belle (Entity: King Beast, Queen Belle).
• Kenny Ortega: Director and Choreographer of the *Descendants* trilogy (Entity: Kenny Ortega).

Full "Evil Like Me" Lyrics (Stanza Breakdown)

[Mal - Dove Cameron]

Look at you, look at me
I don't know who to be, Mother
Is it wrong, is it right?
Be a thief in the night, Mother
Tell me what to do

[Maleficent - Kristin Chenoweth]

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I was once like you, my child
Slightly insecure

Argued with my mother, too
Thought I was mature
But I'm telling you, dear
That the future is clear
You're a villain through and through

[Maleficent & Mal]

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Don't you wanna be evil like me?
Don't you wanna be mean?
Don't you wanna make mischief with me?
Plotting out our next scheme?

[Maleficent]

Don't you wanna be very, very good at being bad?
I have tried my whole life long to show you
That you are not a loser, dear
So, listen, and you'll hear
All about the ways to be wicked

[Mal]

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Apple, apple, dip, dip
Wanna try it? Skip, skip
Seven dwarves, seven woes
Heigh-ho, heigh-ho

[Maleficent]

I taught you all you know
So please, by all means, go
Make your mother proud

[Maleficent & Mal]

Don't you wanna be evil like me?
Don't you wanna be mean?
Don't you wanna make mischief with me?
Plotting out our next scheme?

[Maleficent]

Don't you wanna be very, very good at being bad?
I have tried my whole life long to show you
That you are not a loser, dear
So, listen, and you'll hear
All about the ways to be wicked

[Maleficent]

Hush, now, close your eyes
Hear the sirens call
Close your eyes, feel the darkness
Fall, fall, fall

[Mal]

Is it wrong, is it right?
Be a thief in the night, Mother
Tell me what to do

[Maleficent & Mal]

Don't you wanna be evil like me?
Don't you wanna be mean?
Don't you wanna make mischief with me?
Plotting out our next scheme?

[Maleficent]

Don't you wanna be very, very good at being bad?
I have tried my whole life long to show you
That you are not a loser, dear
So, listen, and you'll hear
All about the ways to be wicked

[Maleficent]

The future is clear
You're a villain through and through

[Maleficent & Mal]

Don't you wanna be evil like me?

The 5 Chilling Psychological Secrets in the Lyrics

The genius of Adam Schlesinger's writing lies in his ability to use classic musical theater structure to expose the deep-seated issues between Mal and Maleficent. The lyrics are a masterclass in emotional manipulation, revealing five core psychological secrets.

1. Mal's Core Insecurity is Her Mother's Weapon

The song opens with Mal's plea: "Look at you, look at me / I don't know who to be, Mother / Is it wrong, is it right?" This immediately establishes Mal's central conflict—she is deeply insecure about her identity and desperately seeks her mother’s approval. Maleficent immediately exploits this vulnerability, responding with the gaslighting line, "I was once like you, my child / Slightly insecure." This is a classic manipulator’s move, feigning empathy only to pivot and declare, "You're a villain through and through." The entire song hinges on Maleficent preying on Mal’s fear of being a "loser" and validating her only through villainy (Entity: Emotional Manipulation).

2. Maleficent Confuses "Love" with "Legacy"

A key recurring line from Maleficent is, "I have tried my whole life long to show you / That you are not a loser, dear." This reveals Maleficent’s narcissistic motivation. She doesn't want Mal to be evil for Mal's sake, but for the sake of the Maleficent family legacy. Her "love" is entirely conditional on Mal successfully carrying out the villainous plot. She sees Mal's hesitation as a personal failure on her part, not as a sign of Mal's growing conscience (Entity: Narcissism).

3. The Lyrics Foreshadow Mal's Redemption Arc

Mal's only solo contribution to the lyrical narrative is the quick, dismissive chant: "Apple, apple, dip, dip / Wanna try it? Skip, skip / Seven dwarves, seven woes / Heigh-ho, heigh-ho." This short, almost nonsensical stanza shows Mal's internal resistance. She's reciting the villainous "lessons" she's been taught—referencing the Evil Queen's poisoned apple and the Seven Dwarves—but she does so with a flippant, almost bored tone. This is the first lyrical hint that she is capable of choosing to "skip" the path of villainy, a critical foreshadowing of her eventual choice in Auradon (Entity: Auradon).

4. The Theatricality Hides the Trauma

Kristin Chenoweth’s performance is deliberately grand and Broadway-esque, which reflects Maleficent's personality. Lines like "Don't you wanna make mischief with me? / Plotting out our next scheme?" are delivered with a playful, almost mother-daughter bonding tone. However, the true meaning is sinister: Maleficent is normalizing crime and coercion as a form of family fun. The catchy, upbeat nature of the music is a Trojan horse, making the trauma of forced evil sound appealing and glamorous (Entity: Gaslighting).

5. The Siren's Call is the Ultimate Control Mechanism

The bridge is the most chilling part of the song: "Hush, now, close your eyes / Hear the sirens call / Close your eyes, feel the darkness / Fall, fall, fall." This section is Maleficent’s final, almost hypnotic attempt at control. The "sirens call" is a reference to mythological figures who lure sailors to their doom, symbolizing the irresistible, yet destructive, call of true villainy. It's a moment of pure, raw manipulation, forcing Mal to submit to the darkness that her mother embodies (Entity: Mythology). This sequence effectively pushes Mal over the edge, leading her to temporarily commit to the plan before her conscience takes over.

"Evil Like Me" Legacy: The Songwriter and The Future

The enduring popularity of "Evil Like Me" is a testament to the talent of its composer, Adam Schlesinger. Schlesinger, a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning musician known for his work in the band Fountains of Wayne and the iconic song "That Thing You Do!", brought a sophisticated, rock-infused theatricality to the Disney Channel (Entity: Fountains of Wayne). His ability to write a song that is both a catchy pop track and a character-driven musical theater number is why it is consistently ranked among the best Disney Villain songs, even a decade after its release. Tragically, Adam Schlesinger passed away in April 2020 (Entity: Adam Schlesinger’s Passing), making "Evil Like Me" and his other *Descendants* contribution, "Did I Mention," a part of his lasting legacy in family entertainment. The complexity and depth he infused into a DCOM track elevates the entire soundtrack, which also includes other hits like "Rotten to the Core," "If Only," and "Set it Off" (Entities: Rotten to the Core, If Only, Set it Off).

As fans look forward to the next chapter, *Descendants: The Rise of Red*, which centers on the daughter of the Queen of Hearts (Entity: Queen of Hearts), "Evil Like Me" remains the definitive anthem of the Villain Kids' (VKs) internal struggle. Its lyrics perfectly encapsulate the moment they choose to forge their own paths, proving that even a song about being "very, very good at being bad" can ultimately inspire a journey toward choosing good.