Out Here On My Own

"Out Here on My Own"Single by Mariah Carey
General information
Artist	Mariah Carey
Release date	September 18, 2020
Recorded	2001
Length	3:16
Album	The Rarities
Label	Columbia Records, Legacy Records
Songwriter(s)	Lesley Gore, Michael Gore
Singles chronology
Previous	"Save The Day"
Current	"Out Here on My Own"
Next	"Oh Santa! (Remix)"
The Rarities track list
"Slipping Away"
"Out Here on My Own"
"Loverboy (Firecracker Original Version)"

Out Here on My Own is the eight track and second single from Mariah's eight compilation album, The Rarities.

The song was written by Lesley and Michael Gore and was released on September 18, 2020 through Columbia and Legacy Records.

Background

On September 9, 2020 Mariah revealed the track-listing for compilation album, The Rarities. On the album, "Out Here on My Own" was listed as the eight track.

On September 16, 2020 Mariah shared a snippet of her memoir in which she said she had won a singing competition by singing the song at a young age. The full statement is below:

“	The fact that I believe I could become a successful artist is one of my greatest strengths. Around the same time, my mother entered me in a talent competition in the city and I sang one of my favorite songs: “Out Here On My Own” by Irene Cara. I felt “Out Here On My Own” described my entire life, and I loved singing that way – singing to reveal a piece of my soul. And I won doing it. At that age, I lived for the movie Fame, and Irene Cara was everything to me. I related to her multicultural look (Puerto Rican and Cuban), her multi textured hair, and, most importantly, her ambition and accomplishments. She won an Oscar for Best Original Song for “Flashdance… What a Feeling” (which she co-wrote), from Flashdance, making her the first Black woman to win in a category other than acting. (She won a Grammy, a Golden Globe, and an American Music Award for the song too.) But “Out Here On My Own” was such a pure song that touched my heart, and I couldn’t believe I won a trophy for singing a song I loved. It was the first time I’d received validation as an artist. What a feeling.	”
– Mariah in her memoir "The Meaning of Mariah Carey"

Mariah also revealed that she found the song in her unreleased vault when compiling songs for The Rarities album.

On September 18, 2020 Mariah posted a 14 second soundbite on Twitter including a picture of master recordings from studio sessions for “All That Glitters”, the original title of her soundtrack/movie “Glitter.” The song was listed as the first track and there were two other tracks, one titled “So, It’s Just The Way”, which is likely an early working title for "Want You" with Eric Benet, as well as her cover of "Didn't Mean To Turn You On", which both ended up on the released "Glitter" soundtrack.

Promotion and release

On September 17, 2020 Mariah announced the release of the single to social media. The announcement included a video that showed a section of Mariah's memoir "The Meaning of Mariah Carey" and a short snippet of the 2000 track. The single was released on September 18, 2020

Lyric video

Mariah released an official lyric video for the song on September 18, 2020.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]

Sometimes I wonder where I've been
Who I am
Do I fit in?
Make believing is hard alone
Out here on my own

[Verse 2]
We're always proving who we are
Always reaching for that rising star
To guide me far
And shine me home
Out here on my own

[Chorus]
When I'm down and feeling blue
I close my eyes so I can be with you
Oh baby, be strong for me
Baby, belong to me
Help me through
Help me need you

[Verse 3]
Until the morning sun appears
Making light of all my fears
I dry the tears
I've never shown
Out here on my own

[Chorus]
But when I'm down and feeling blue
I close my eyes so I can be with you
Oh baby, be strong for me
Baby, belong to me
Help me through
Help me need you

[Verse 4]
Sometimes I wonder
Where I've been
Who I am
Do I fit in?
I may not win
But I can't be thrown
Out here on my own

[Outro]

Out here on my own