Mariah Carey tells her ex-boyfriend their relationship will never truly be over in the poised "Don't Forget About Us."
Mellow bass and gentle handclaps opens the single, setting a muted tone.
In the intro, Carey pleads with her ex-boyfriend to hold onto the past.
"(Don't forget about us)/Don't baby, don't baby, don't let it go/No baby, no baby, no baby no/Don't baby, don't baby, don't let it go/My baby boy."
Their longtime romance ended slowly. They gradually drifted apart and one day, just stopped talking to one another. She admits it was both their fault, regardless of who did what to who. Her eyes well up. It's painful for her to think of the last time she heard him say 'I love you.'
"Just let it die/
With no goodbyes/Details don't matter/We both paid the price/Tears in my eyes/You know sometimes/
It'd be like that baby."
In the first bridge, Carey will often see him at a mutual friend's house. When he asks how she's doing, she replies with a breezy 'great.' She wants him to think the breakup wasn't a big deal for her and that she's moved on. However, at the same time, she wants to confide in him. But she simply says that it was nice to see him again. They were the premier couple among their friends. She tells him to think of the inside jokes and the long conversations they had.
"Now everytime I see you/I pretend I'm fine/When I wanna reach out to you/But I turn and I walk and I let it ride/Baby I must confess/We were bigger than anything/Remember us at our best/And don't forget about."
In the chorus, she encourages him to remember when they would make love and then cuddle for the rest of the night. She says a part of her will always love him. She notices his glances remain fixed at her sometimes. He still has feelings for her. She's gone a few dates but none of the guys do anything for her. She notes that their love is authentic and will continue for as they long as they live.
"Late nights, playin' in the dark/And wakin' up inside my arms/Boy, you'll always be in my heart and/I can see it in your eyes/You still want it/So don't forget about us/I'm just speaking from experience/Nothing can compare to your first true love/So I hope this will remind you/When it's for real, it's forever/So don't forget about us."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Destynee Gregory
I am in the same exact position this song is singing about. This song is a great song for people like me and anyone else.
2 - peaches
keep riden his back girl cuz i still fucking around with my first love!
3 - peaches
the whole song desribes me and x-boyfriend relationship thats why i just love that song!
4 - cheri chambers
This is a wonderful song, I love every song Mariah drops~!!!!! Fuck all my Exs, When I'm heart broken then I'll feel this song with a passion, but for right now, It be ridin though.
5 - lovelygirl
okay i am dating this guy..he keeps going back & forth with this other girl. i love this song. but i just wish that the girl who loved him would just leave him alone because i am so in love with him and he also told me he loves me more than her. but this song is awesome!
6 - reggie
I'm sure i speak for all guys (the straight ones) when i say that Mariah looks hotter in every new video!!!
The lyrics never even registered in my head.
7 - MC fan
mariah carey is da sexiest woman on earth i mean evryfing about her is perfect ,her voice, her looks are amazing , n she has an amzing bangin figure, i wish i cud meet her
8 - Aaron Lemings
Mariah is a has-been stuffed sausage. It's only her "rapper" friends that keep her relevant.
9 - jennifer johnson
i love mc whole album she realy put it down.i can relate to her alot because it feel like all the songs she made some what fits into the relationship i had with a boy by the name of derric palmer. holla go mc you realy did it this year.
10 - K JACKSON
THIS SONG REMINDS ME OF MY EX. WE STILL TALK AND DO WHATEVER THIS HAS BEEN ON GOIN FOR 11 YEARS, WE BREAK UP AND MAKE UP. I GUESS ITS TRUE, NOTHIN CAN COMPARE TO YOUR FIRST TRUE LOVE. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO HE IS WITH OR WHO I AM WITH WE ALWAYS FIND OURSELF BACK TO EACH OTHER INSPITE OF EVERYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE COURSE OF THE YEARS.IT DON'T MATTER WHO HE WITH "I BET SHE CAN'T DO IT LIKE ME' and he won't ever forget about us!
11 - Kelix
Check out my remix: Don't Forget About Us (Kelix's True Love Rework)
12 - catherine
luv thiz song its krazzzzzzzzzyyyyyyy
13 - dapo
I love Mariah, shes good and her voice is unique this song makes me know the importance of first love.The song is cool and nice.Mariah keep it up!
14 - R.Jackson
I LOVE THIS SONG! OF COURSE I CAN RELATE TO IT AND THAT'S WHY I LOVE IT. ISN'T THAT WHY WE LIKE SONGS SO MUCH CAUSE WE CAN RELATE TO THEM? HER WHOLE CD IS GOOD I'M JUST MAD I HAD TO BUY THE CD AGAIN JUST TO GET 4 NEW SONGS THAT WAS MESSED UP MC. BUT WE STILL LUV YA!
15 - AmyUpdegraff
hey this is just me amy i am one of your favorite fans and i love your music, i wanna meet u so when u get this my screen name is [Deleted. It's not a good idea to post contact info. Comments Editor.]
16 - ashley johnson
MC tis song is so pretty and visious. I had to try to play the whole joint on my answer machine so when I call my own phone I can hear it on my voice mail. Me and Demont broke up last month. I luv that nigga so much. No other girl can ever take mt place. Tis sony will always be delicated for me and Demont.MC tis song is like that.
17 - ashley
i really love your song it reminds me of my ex-boyfriend zachary
18 - anonymous
love u mc
19 - Berto
Yeah, I too love this song, I fell in love for the first time with a dude, and I quit my job and moved for him, so he'd be safe, as he is running from Huber. Then when we get to the destination of choice, he up and leaves me, right when I need him the most. I never loved a dude like this before, as I am a dude myself. I can't forget about him. I am still struggling to make it, but life goes on. I dedicated this song to him, and he started to cry, as I dropped him off, I hope he comes back to me.
Bryan, where ever you are you deserve the best, I never judged you, and never will. Please remember to stay true to your heart and never settle for anything less than what you deserve.Please also remeber that I love you and you always have a home to come too, if you want it. We can be friends, again if you want it. I pray that you are doing fine, and I will never forget you.
20 - krystal
wuts the name of the hot ass model in the song?!?! any1 kno
21 - Brandy
Does anyone know who the guy is in her Don't forget about video? Whoever he is. He is so Beautiful. And I would love it if anyone could tell me if they know who he is. Thanks
22 - Mrz.Tweetybird aka Cassandra Hill
Hey.This your girl Cassandra AKA Mrz.Tweetybird and personily,I love this song alot.Like everyday I come home frm skool(Eastmoor,Tha's wuzz up)and I cut on the radio and get ready for them to play.I think this the best song she ever did all time.Sometimes its makes me sad and think about my first loveas but you gotta "shake it off".Cuz tha's the past.
23 - Miss_kentucky_gurl
i feel the same way because i just got married in may an me an my husband are split up at the moment an i miss him so much i cant stand it, it all?
24 - CruEl World if Internet sways minds
This is so wrong for so many reasons: The person who obvious designed this site is not afraid of bad karma to say the least! But I admit I am amazed by their creativity!
P.S.: Warning for those who are serious Mariah Carey fans watch out! It may not be best to open the above link! This site razzes her harder than awfulplasticsurgery.com about her quote on quote barbie boobs~
25 - Leanna
I just want to kmow WHY is MC so racist?????