“Play This Song” is a collaboration with Anderson .Paak which was released as the third single from Mariah's sixteenth studio album Here For It All on September 26, 2025, coinciding with the album's release date. “I definitely wanted to work with Anderson because he's so brilliant and amazing at what he does, which is just being a kick-ass musician,”, Mariah told Apple Music. “But when we got into the studio, we decided we wanted to do something that was kind of '70s, and we did give you that kind of vibe. So we started working on ‘Play This Song,’ and it was just one of those ones that I really loved. Working with him in the studio, he's a great companion in terms of making music.”
The music video for “Play This Song,” directed by Anderson .Paak, premiered on September 26, 2025.
Play this song, by yourself
And your friends don't talk about it
About your suffering in your silence
Boy I know you miss me
(Listen by yourself)
(You can listen by your damn self)
And I can't pretend to hold it all in
It all comes around again
You know we got some history
(Listen by yourself)
(Please listen by your damn self)
Play this song, by yourself
There's a thing in my mind
I can't block this time
Ain't no way around it
I told Pookie, Deshawn and Ron
We were getting back together
Although I highly doubt it
And I know you miss babe
Don't pretend like you don't feel the same
Can't take all the pain and the sorrow
Come on and stay until tomorrow
And I know you miss babe
Ain't it hard when things don't go your way
I'm not the same, baby I promise
All I can say is that I'm sorry
Play this song, by yourself
Though you try so hard to hide it
I can tell by the way you're smiling
Girl I know you miss me
(Listen by yourself)
(You can listen by your damn self)
At the drive-in eatin' with your little friend
I used to buy you steaks and scrimps
Don't act like you don't miss me
(Listen by yourself)
(Please listen by your damn self)
Play this song, by yourself
There's a place in my heart
I can't hide at all, boy you can always find it
I told Keisha, Chante and Tots
We were getting back together
Although I highly doubt it
And I know you miss babe
Don't pretend like you don't feel the same
Can take all the pain and the sorrow
Come on and stay until tomorrow
And I know you miss babe
Ain't it hard when things don't go your way
I'm not the same, baby I promise
All I can say is that I'm sorry
Play this song, by yourself
Written by Written by Mariah Carey, Brandon Paak Anderson, Kenya Rae Johnson, Jarius Mozee, Jason Pounds, Daniel Moore II.
Produced by Mariah Carey N.W.I. and Daniel Moore II.
