"When You Believe" won the 1999 Academy Award for "Best Original Song" and was nominated for a Golden Globes for "Best Original Song". It also received a Golden Satellite Award nomination for "Best Original Song in a Motion Picture". It was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for "Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals", losing to "I Still Have That Other Girl" by Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello. As Carey is part Latin, Houston and Carey were also nominated for "Outstanding Performance of a Song for a Feature Film" at the ALMA Awards.
The official soundtrack for The Prince of Egypt was released on November 17, 1998, and featured songs from the movie. However, not all songs from this recording were used in the film. This album peaked at #1 on Billboard magazine's Top Contemporary Christian chart, and peaked at #25 on the Top Billboard 200 chart.
The album also spawned a pair of hit singles. The first track, "When You Believe" was a duet performed by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston.
I Am Free
Mariah Carey & Whitney Houston Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lost inside myself
With the world surrounding me
Wandering through the misery
But now I am free
You gave me a breath of life
Unclouded my eyes
Lighting a ray of hope for me
And now I am free
Free to live
Free to laugh
Free to soar
Free to shine
Free to give
Free to love
Free enough to fly
Once I was all so alone
Unsteady and cold
But your love rained down upon me
Washing away uncertainty
But now
I am
Now, oh, now
Now
I am free, I am free
The lyrics to Mariah Carey's "I Am Free" are a reflection of someone who has gone through a major transformation, from being a prisoner and lost within their own self to finding true freedom in their life. The first verse begins with the songwriter admitting to feeling trapped, lost, and hopeless. However, throughout the song, this mood dramatically shifts to one of joy, positivity, and liberation. This change is portrayed through the metaphor of being unclouded and given new breath of life, exemplifying a spiritual and emotional awakening.
The chorus highlights the newfound freedom and lists the different types of freedoms the songwriter feels now that they have broken free from their past. They feel free to live, laugh, soar, shine, give, love, and able to fly away from their former state. The second verse emphasizes the impact of love in achieving this newfound freedom. Carey sings about feeling lonely and uncertain, but love gradually washed away these negative feelings, paving the way to freedom.
The song is powerful in its message, connecting with anyone who has felt held captive by their own thoughts and emotions. It is a reminder that love, hope, and faith can provide a way out of a difficult situation. And while there may be hardships, they can be overcome. With hope and courage, freedom is attainable.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I was a prisoner
In the past, I felt trapped and restrained from living my life to the fullest
Lost inside myself
I was unable to connect with my true self, my inner feelings and emotions
With the world surrounding me
Despite being surrounded by people, my loneliness kept me trapped in my own world
Wandering through the misery
I was aimlessly moving through life and carrying the burden of emotional pain and suffering
But now I am free
However, my current state is empowered, liberated from my past struggles
You gave me a breath of life
You, as a partner or a friend, breathed new life into me, provided a fresh perspective
Unclouded my eyes
You helped me see the world without any clouded judgments or negativity, but with clarity and optimism
With sweet serenity
You created an environment of peace and tranquility around me
Lighting a ray of hope for me
You infused a hope in me, illuminating a path towards a brighter future
And now I am free
Thanks to the above reasons, I am now living life without any constraints, free to be myself
Free to live
I have the freedom to make choices, pursue dreams and live life on my own terms
Free to laugh
My life is now filled with joy and laughter, without any worries holding me back
Free to soar
I am free to climb to any heights, achieve any goal, breaking all the previous barriers
Free to shine
My exceptional qualities and talents are on full display, radiating brightness wherever I go
Free to give
I have the freedom to share my blessings with others, without any fear or hesitation
Free to love
Love is now available to me, I am free to love, and be loved by others
Free enough to fly
My spirit is unbound, I have the freedom to reach new heights, soar as high as I want
Once I was all so alone
Earlier, my life was filled with loneliness and despair
Unsteady and cold
My life was without direction or purpose, and I was unable to find warmth and comfort around me
But your love rained down upon me
You showered your love and care on me, giving me a sense of belonging and value
Washing away uncertainty
That love washed away all my doubts and insecurities, leaving me with a sense of confidence and assurance
Now, oh, now
The current situation, which is joyful and liberating
I am
I, Mariah Carey, the singer and songwriter of this song
Free
The feeling of being empowered, without any constraints holding me back
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Walter Afanasieff, Mariah Carey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind