Lyrics: We Belong Together
A deep analysis of the lyrics to the hit song ‘We Belong Together’ by Mariah Carey, reveals the meaning, inspiration, and magic of the classic ballad.
We Belong Together
[Intro]
Sweet love, yeah
[Verse 1]
I didn’t mean it when I said I didn’t love you so
I shoulda held on tight, I never shoulda let you go
I didn’t know nothing, I was stupid, I was foolish
I was lying to myself
I couldn’t have fathomed I would ever be without your love
Never imagined I’d be sitting here beside myself
Guess I didn’t know you, guess I didn’t know me
But I thought I knew everything I never felt
[Pre-Chorus]
The feeling that I’m feeling now that I don’t hear your voice
Or have your touch and kiss your lips ’cause I don’t have a choice
Oh, what I wouldn’t give to have you lying by my side
Right here, ’cause, baby (We belong together)
[Chorus]
When you left, I lost a part of me (Together)
It’s still so hard to believe
Come back, baby, please
(Come back, come back, come back, come back)
‘Cause we belong together
Who else am I gonna lean on when times get rough? (Who else)
Who’s gonna talk to me on the phone ’til the sun comes up? (Who else)
Who’s gonna take your place? There ain’t nobody better (Who else)
Oh, baby, baby, we belong together
[Verse 2]
I can’t sleep at night, when you are on my mind
Bobby Womack’s on the radio
Singing to me, “If you think you’re lonely now”
Wait a minute, this is too deep (Too deep)
I gotta change the station
So I turn the dial, tryin’ to catch a break
And then I hear Babyface, “I only think of you”
And it’s breaking my heart
I’m tryna keep it together, but I’m falling apart
[Pre-Chorus]
I’m feelin’ all out of my element
Throwin’ things, cryin’
Tryin’ to figure out where the hell I went wrong
The pain reflected in this song
Ain’t even half of what I’m feeling inside
I need you, need you back in my life, baby (My life, my life)
(We belong together)
[Chorus]
When you left, I lost a part of me (Together)
It’s still so hard to believe
Come back, baby, please
(Come back, come back, come back, come back)
‘Cause we belong together
Who else am I gonna lean on when times get rough?
Who’s gonna talk to me on the phone ’til the sun comes up?
Who’s gonna take your place? There ain’t nobody better
Oh, baby, baby, we belong together, baby
(We belong together)
[Post-Chorus]
When you left, I lost a part of me
It’s still so hard to believe
Come back, baby, please
(Come back, come back, come back, come back)
‘Cause we belong together
Who am I gonna lean on when times get rough?
Who’s gonna talk to me ’til the sun comes up?
Who’s gonna take your place? There ain’t nobody better
Oh, baby, baby, we belong together
[Outro]
We belong together
Performed by: Mariah Carey
Written by: Mariah Carey, Babyface, Bobby Womack, Darnell Bristol, Jermaine Dupri, Johnta Austin, Manuel Seal, Patrick Moten, Sandra E. Sully, Sid Johnson
Source: Def Jam Recordings, Universal Music Publishing
Curiosities
– The reference to Bobby Womack’s excerpt is the 1981 Womack classic “If you think you’re lonely now” which is a song about how the girl will miss him and value him once he leaves
– The reference to Babyface’s excerpt is the 1987 classic “Two Occasions” performed by The Deele, a band that Bayface was part of initially. Further lyrics are quoted in the “We Belong Together Remix” where Mariah continues “I only think of you on two occasions, both day and night“
– The portion “I’m feelin’ all out of my element…” is a breath-catcher: 55 syllables in 14 seconds.
– The video is shot in a mansion in preparation for her unwanted wedding with actor Eric Roberts. Eventually, she decides to run away with Wentworth Miller, both actors featured in the “It’s Like That” video, and both directed by Brett Ratner (also responsible for most of her best music videos).
– The wedding dress used in the video is the Vera Wang used in her wedding to Tommy Mottola “and I knew that we wouldn’t be able to get a fabulous dress like in two days so I just took that dress out of the storage“.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0habxsuXW4g
