Always Be My Baby

Written by Mariah and Jermaine Dupri, “Always Be My Baby” was released as the third single from the Daydream album in the United States. “Jermaine, Manuel [Seal] and I sat down and Jermaine programmed the drums. I told him the feel that I wanted and Manuel put his hands on the keyboards and I started singing the melody,” Mariah said about the song. “We went back and forth with the bridge and the B-section. I had the outline of the lyrics and started singing ‘always be my baby’ off the top of my head.”

“Always Be My Baby” was sent to radio on February 27, 1996, and became Mariah's eleventh number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 during the week of May 4, tying her with Whitney Houston and Madonna as the female solo artist with the most number-one singles. On March 27, 2022, it was certified 5x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

In the United Kingdom and Europe, “Always Be My Baby” was released as the fourth Daydream single, following “Open Arms,” on June 17, 1996. The song peaked at number three on UK's Official Singles Chart, becoming Mariah's twelfth Top 10 single, and was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry on December 9, 2022. In Australia, “Always Be My Baby” peaked at number seventeen and was certified 2x Platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association on September 16, 2019.

Remixes

Jermaine Dupri produced the Mr. Dupri Mix of the song, which samples The S.O.S. Band's “Tell Me If You Still Care” and features rapper Da Brat and R&B group Xscape. Mariah teamed up with David Morales and Satoshi Tomiie and recorded new vocals for the dance remixes of “Always Be My Baby,” while rapper Lil' Vicious was featured on the Reggae Soul mixes of the song.

Music Video

Album Version

The music video for the album version of “Always Be My Baby” was directed by Mariah and filmed at Fresh Air Fund's Camp Mariah. “I wanted to do like a through-line narrative of two little kids that met at the camp and they grew up together,” Mariah revealed in 2015. “It was over the water on a tyre swing and it was freezing cold in the middle of the night but it was kind of a fun video. And then we had a bonfire!”

Mr. Dupri Mix

The black-and-white music video for the the Mr. Dupri Mix of “Always Be My Baby” was filmed at Mariah's house in Westchester County. The clip shows Mariah, Da Brat, Xscape and Jermaine Dupri in the recording booth, relaxing by the pool and playing cards.

Live Performances

Releases

United States

In the United States, “Always Be My Baby” was released on March 9, 1996. The Single, issued on CD and Cassette, includes the Album Version, the Mr. Dupri Mix and the previously-unreleased “Slipping Away.” The Maxi Single, also available on CD and Cassette, includes three versions of the Mr. Dupri Mix, produced by Mariah and Jermaine Dupri (No Rap Radio, Main and Extended), the Reggae Soul Mix featuring Lil' Vicious, and the Album Version. There were three vinyl releases in the States. A 7" Vinyl, including the song “Long Ago” as the B-Side, a A 12" vinyl including the Reggae Soul Dub, Reggae Soul A Cappella, Mr. Dupri Extended Mix and the Album Version, and a third 12" Vinyl with remixes by David Morales and Satoshi Tomiie (Always Club Mix, Dub-A-Baby, Groove A Pella and ST Dub).

Europe

The European “Always Be My Baby” CD Single contains the Album Version and the Mr. Dupri Mix, while the Maxi Single includes three additional remixes: Mr. Dupri No Rap Radio Mix, Mr. Dupri Extended Mix and Reggae Soul Mix. The two 12" Vinyls available in the United States were also pressed in Europe.

United Kingdom

“Always Be My Baby” was released in three formats in the United Kingdom: a Cassette Single including the Album Version and the Def Classic Radio Version, a CD Maxi Single which contains the Album Version, two versions of the Mr. Dupri Mix (No Rap Radio and Extended) and an additional CD Maxi Single, with a different cover, including the dance remixes: Def Classic Radio Mix, Always Club Mix, Dub-A-Baby, Groove A Pella and ST Dub.

Australia

In Australia, the “Always Be My Baby” Maxi Single was released on CD and Cassette, both including the Album Version, three versions of the Mr. Dupri Mix (Main, No Rap Radio and Extended), and the Reggae Soul Mix. An additional Maxi Single titled “Always Be My Baby (The Remixes)” was issued on CD containing four dance remixes by David Morales and Satoshi Tomiie: Def Classic Radio Version, Always Club, Groove A Pella and ST Dub.

Japan

Released on March 7, 1996, in Japan, the “Always By My Baby” CD Single was issued on 3" CD containing the Album Version and Mr. Dupri Mix as well as the song “Long Ago,” from Mariah's Daydream album.

Available on

Lyrics

Album Version

We were as one
For a moment in time
And it seemed everlasting
That you would always be mine
Now you want to be free
So I'll let you fly
'Cause I know in my heart
Our love will never die

You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're ever gonna shake me
Oh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby

I ain't gonna cry
And I won't beg you to stay
If you're determined to leave boy
I will not stand in your way
But inevitably, you'll be back again
'Cause you know in your heart babe
Our love will never end

You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're ever gonna shake me
Oh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby

I know that you'll be back boy
When your days and your nights get a little bit colder
I know that you'll be right back baby
Oh baby believe me it's only a matter of time

You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way you're ever gonna shake me
Oh darling, 'cause you'll always be my baby


Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey, Manuel Seal.
Produced by Mariah Carey and Jermaine Dupri. Co-produced by Manuel Seal.

Mr. Dupri Mix

Da Brat:
I got one for the money
I got two for the bass
I got three to get you goin' baby
Cause Da Brat's in the place
And it don't stop
And it don't quit
Like that, it don't stop
And it don't quit
Like that

Mariah / Xscape:
We were as one baby
For a moment in time
And it seemed everlasting
That you would always be mine
Now you want to be free
So I'll let you fly
Cause I know in my heart baby
Our love will never die
No

You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy, don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling, cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way, you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby

I ain't gonna cry, no
And I won't beg you to stay
If you're determined to leave, boy
I will not stand in your way
But inevitably, you'll be back again
Cause you know in your heart, baby
Our love will never end

You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy, don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling, cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way, you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby

I know that you'll be back, boy
When your days and your nights get a little bit colder
I know that you'll be right back, baby
Oh baby, believe me, it's only a matter of time

Da Brat:
Who brings the ruckus and the pain like Meth
It's evident, the residents of So So Def
Got the industry on lock where outsiders can't enter
Ever since the arrival of this west side representer
Who rocks your Music Box and breaks down the structure
You fantasize as you visualize me as your Dreamlover
Fuck with your Emotions Unplugged in your Daydream
Face reality reason through MCs inflicting fatalities
Ain't no cap on my salary
I'm gettin' G's if you heard of me's, then you know that we's makin' G's
Let's Xscape with Mariah Carey-ing me to the back
Steady stacking papers smokin' on fat stacks of danks
See, to some I'm a hero, others feel I'm foul
But that's my style
And they don't pay me nor can they fade me
So what I do is keep it true and real for my peeps in that street
Cause to them I'ma always be their baby

Mariah / Xscape:
May we always be together
In the sands of time

You'll always be a part of me
I'm part of you indefinitely
Boy, don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling, cause you'll always be my baby
And we'll linger on
Time can't erase a feeling this strong
No way, you're never gonna shake me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby

You and I will always be
No way, you're never gonna shake me
No way, you're never gonna shake me
You and I will always be
No matter what you do
Matter what you do, baby


Lyrics: Mariah Carey, Shawntae Harris. Music: Jermaine Dupri, Mariah Carey, Manuel Seal, Jimmy “Jam” and Terry Lewis.
Produced by Jermaine Dupri and Mariah Carey.

Always Club Mix

You'll always, always
Always, you'll always
Always, always, always
Always, you'll always
Always, always, baby

You'll always be my baby
You'll always be my baby
You're my baby, you're my baby
You'll always be my baby
You'll always be my baby, yeah

Used to be as one
Baby, once upon a time
Everlasting as it seemed
I thought you'd always be mine
Now you want to be free
So I gotta let you fly
But I know in my heart
That our love will never die

Cause you'll always be my baby
Cause you'll always be my baby

Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby
Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby
You're my baby, you're my baby

No, I ain't gonna cry
And I won't beg you to stay
If you get up and leave
I ain't standing in your way
Cause inevitably baby you'll be back again
Cause you know in your heart
That our love will never end

Cause you'll always be my baby
Cause you'll always be my baby

Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby
Boy don't you know you can't escape me
Ooh darling cause you'll always be my baby

Always, always, always, always
Always, always, always, always

You'll always, you'll always, you'll always, you'll always
You'll always, you'll always, you'll always, you'll always
You'll always, you'll always, you'll always, you'll always
You'll always, you'll always, you'll always, you'll always

I know that you and I
I know that you and I
I know that you and I
I know that you and I
I know that you and I
I know that you and I
I know that you and I
We will linger on

I know that you and I
I know that you and I
I know that you and I
We will linger on

Ooh baby, ooh baby, I know that
I know that, I know that
I know that you and I
I know that you and I
I know that you and I
We will linger on…

I know that you and I
I know that you and I
I know that you and I
We will linger on

I know that you and I
I know that you and I
I know that you and I
We will linger on…

No time can't take away our love
No time can't take away our love
No time can't take away our love
No time can't take away our love
No time can't take away our love
No time can't take away our love
No time…

Gonna linger on, gonna linger on, gonna linger on, gonna linger on
Always
Always, always
Always…

You and I will always be
You and I will always be
You and I will always be
You and I will always be
You and I will always be
You and I will always be

Come on baby, come on home
Come on baby, come on, come on
Come on baby, come on home
Come on baby, come on, come home, baby
Why don't you come on home to me baby
Come on baby, come on home
Come on baby, come on, come home
Come on baby, come on home
Come on baby, come on…


Lyrics: Mariah Carey. Music: David Morales.
Produced by David Morales.