Roof

Mariah Carey

About Roof

"The Roof (Back in Time)" is a song by American singer and songwriter Mariah Carey, taken from her sixth studio album, Butterfly (1997). It was released as the third single from the album in Europe, on March 20, 1998 by Columbia Records. Similar to the treatments of "Butterfly" and "Breakdown", "The Roof" received a limited worldwide release due to Carey's conflict at the time with Sony. The song was written and produced by Carey and Trackmasters, and is built around a sample from "Shook Ones part II" by Mobb Deep. The song's lyrics recount an intimate roof-top encounter between lovers, and how the memory affects the protagonist. The extended remix features a rap verse by Mobb Deep; both versions were praised by contemporary music critics. In the music video, Carey is seen in a limousine recounting an encounter she shared on a rainy night. Additionally, past scenes of the event are shown, with Carey caressing her lover at a roof-top party. During the videos climax, Carey open the limousines sun-roof and stands in the rain, trying to recapture the moments she shared in the rain. Aside from the Japanese concerts, Carey performed the song live during her Butterfly World Tour in 1998. Due to the song's limited release, "The Roof" did not chart in most major music markets, with the exception of The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at numbers 63 and 96, respectively. 


Year:
1997
167 
#3

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Oh yeah
Oh, oh, yeah, oh, oh, yeah
It wasn't raining yet 
But it was definitely 
A little misty on 
That warm November night 
And my heart was pounding 
My inner voice resounding 
Begging me to turn away 
But I just had to see your face 
To feel alive 
And then you casually walked in the room 
And I was twisted in the web 
Of my desire for you 
My apprehension blew away 
I only wanted you 
To taste my sadness 
As you kissed me in the dark 

Every time I feel the need 
I envision you caressing me 
And go back in time 
To relieve the splendor of you and I 
On the rooftop that rainy night 

And so we finished the Moet and 
Started feeling liberated 
And I surrendered as you took me 
In your arms 
I was so caught up in the moment 
I couldn't bear to let you go yet 
So I threw caution to the wind 
And started listening to my longing heart 
And then you softly pressed your lips to mine 
And feelings surfaced I'd suppressed 
For such a long time 
And for a while I forgot 
The sorrow and the pain 
And melted with you as we stood 
There in the rain 

Every time I feel the need 
I envision you caressing me 
And go back in time 
To relieve the splendor of you and I 
On the rooftop that rainy night 
Every time I feel the need 
I envision you caressing me 
And go back in time 
To relieve the splendor of you and I 
On the rooftop that rainy night 

Last night I dreamed that I 
Whispered the words I love you 
And touched you so very 
Subtly as we were kissing goodbye 
Pretty baby, how I'm missing you

Every time I feel the need 
I envision you caressing me 
And go back in time 
To relieve the splendor of you and I 
On the rooftop that rainy night 

Every time I feel the need 
I envision you caressing me 
And go back in time 
To relieve the splendor of you and I 
On the rooftop that rainy night 
 
Every time I feel the need 
I envision you caressing me 
And go back in time  
To relieve the splendor of you and I 

Every time I feel the need 
I envision you caressing me 
And go back in time 
To relieve the splendor of you and I 
On the rooftop that rainy night

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Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and released her self-titled debut studio album, Mariah Carey. The album went multi-platinum and spawned four consecutive number one singles, on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. Following her marriage to Mottola in 1993, a series of hit records, including Emotions (1991), Music Box (1993) and Merry Christmas (1994), established her position as Columbia's highest-selling act. Daydream (1995), made music history when the second single, "One Sweet Day" a duet with Boyz II Men, spent a record sixteen weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100, and remains… more »

20 fans

Written by: ALBERT JOHNSON, JEAN CLAUDE OLIVIER, KEJUAN WALIEK MUCHITA, MARIAH CAREY, MARK ROONEY, SAMUEL J. BARNES

Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Album Release
"Roof" is a song from Mariah Carey's sixth studio album, "Butterfly," released in 1997.
Track Length
The length of the song is 5 minutes 14 seconds, making it one of the longer tracks on the album.
Writing and Production
Mariah Carey co-wrote and co-produced this song with the hip-hop group "Mobb Deep." She sampled parts of Mobb Deep's song "Shook Ones (Part II)" for "Roof."
Song Theme
The song is about revisiting old memories, specifically a secret rendezvous on the roof, implying a romantic relationship.
Video Release
The music video for the song was released in 1998 and showcases Mariah reminiscing about her past love.
Critical Reception
Although it was not released as a single, the song received critical acclaim. Critics praised Carey's efforts to move into a more Hip-Hop and R&B dominated direction.
Mixing Styles
Combining softer, melodic tones with harder-edged street rhythms, "Roof" was noted as a key track displaying Mariah Carey's evolving music style.
Fan Reaction
"Roof" is often considered one of Mariah Carey's best album tracks, and is a much-loved song among fans. It is especially appreciated for its lyrics and Carey's soulful vocals.
Live Performances
Despite its popularity among fans, Carey has performed "Roof" live only a few times, notably during the "Butterfly World Tour" in 1998.
Song Meaning
According to Mariah Carey, the song was inspired by a real-life encounter she had on the roof with a mysterious figure.
Personal Healing
Carey has noted that "Roof" is one of the songs she wrote during a period of personal transformation and healing, thus making it much more personal to her.
Song Rating
"Roof" holds a respectable 4.5/5 rating on Genius, an online database and platform for music lovers.

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    A "...time of day."
    B "...thing to say."
    C "...thing, come what may."
    D "...way to stay."

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