Fourth of July

"Fourth of July"Song by Mariah Carey
General information
Artist	Mariah Carey
Length	4:23
Album	Butterfly
Label	Columbia Records
Songwriter(s)	Walter Afanasieff & Mariah Carey
Producer(s)	Afanasieff, Carey
Butterfly track list
"The Roof (Back in Time)"
"Fourth of July"
"Breakdown"

"Fourth of July" is the fifth track from Mariah Carey's sixth studio album, Butterfly. It was released on September 16, 1997 through Columbia Records.

Background

In an interview with with the Australian magazine TV Hits in October 1997, Mariah said:

“Fourth Of July” was one of the first songs that I wrote for this album and it’s sort of like “Underneath The Stars”, which was my favorite song from the last album. We were continuing in the ‘70’s feel and lyrically I wanted to paint a picture, like when you listen to a song and you read the lyrics, It’s very visual in a lot of ways.

Critical reception

In an article written by The97 author "Vincent" described "Fourth of July" a moment of freedom; of independence; of escape.

Vincent also states:

“	Just as America’s “Declaration of Independence” was a statement resulting from a series of influential events and ignited a war for freedom… Mariah Carey’s “Fourth of July” was her own declaration of sorts. She detailed a moment when she truly experienced independence and freedom, while quietly beginning the battle to truly reclaim it. Perhaps, for her, the realization she had on the night described in “Fourth of July,” like America’s own Fourth of July, was the first step in her quest for independence.	”
– Vincent via The97.net "A Declaration of Independence: Mariah Carey’s “Fourth of July”

Lyrics

[Intro]
Trembling
Starry eyed
As you put your hand in mine

[Verse 1]
It was twilight
On the Fourth of July
Sparkling colors were strewn across the sky
And we sat close enough
That we just barely touched
While roman candles went soaring above us and baby

[Chorus 1]
Then you put your hand in mine
And we wandered away
I was trembling inside
But I wanted to stay (Stay)
Pressed against you there and leave the world behind
On that Fourth of July (Fourth of July)

[Verse 2]
So starry eyed (So starry eyed)
On the flowery hillside
Breathless and fervid
Amid the dandelions
As it swept over me (Swept over me)
Like the wind through the trees
I felt you sigh with a sweet intensity and baby

[Chorus 2]
Then you put your hand in mine (Hand in mine)
And we floated away
Delicately lay entwined
In an intimate daze (Daze)
A crescent moon began to shine (Began to shine)
And I wanted to stay (Stay)
Tangled up with you among the fireflies
On that Fourth of July (Fourth of July)

[Bridge]
Thunder clouds (Thunder clouds)
Hung around (Hung around)
So threateningly (So threateningly)
Ominously hovering
And the sky (And the sky)
Opened wide
Showering
Oh, yeah, yeah

[Chorus 3]
Then you put your hand in mine (Put your hand in mine)
And we ran from the rain
Tentatively kissed goodnight
And went our separate ways
And I've never truly felt the way that I
Felt that Fourth of July (Fourth of July)

[Outro]
Truly I have never felt the same inside
Like that Fourth of July (Fourth of July)
Truly I could never feel the same as I
Felt that Fourth of July (Fourth of July)