“The Roof” is a song from Mariah's 1997 Butterfly album released as the third single outside the United States. “‘The Roof’ is my favorite song on the album. I did it with the Trackmasters, they're really cool people,” Mariah told Molly Meldrum in 1997. “I had an idea to use this sample from Mobb Deep, it's called ‘Shook Ones’ and it's one of my favorite records. Every time I heard that, I always knew that I wanted to use it.” Mariah explained the true meaning behind the song on her memoir, The Meaning Of Mariah Carey, released in 2020.
Mobb Deep, who sang “Shook Ones, Pt. II” — the song sampled on “The Roof” — were featured on the remix. David Morales was in charge of the dance remixes, while UK-based R&B producers Full Crew worked on two remixes of “The Roof,” featuring verses by rappers Rimes “Imperial” and Rickardo “The Dreadlocked Lyricist.” Mariah revisited “The Roof” in 2021, recording a new version of the song with R&B singer Brandy. Their collaboration, titled “The Roof (When I Feel The Need)” was part of Mariah's masterclass, which debuted on April 14, 2022, and was included on the 25th Anniversary Expanded Edition of the Butterfly album.
| Song | Remix | Run time |
|---|---|---|
| The Roof | Remix feat. Mobb Deep
Produced by Mariah Carey, Poke & Tone. |
5:31 |
| The Roof | Remix Edit feat. Mobb Deep
Produced by Mariah Carey, Poke & Tone. |
4:23 |
| The Roof | Morales Funky Club Mix
Produced by David Morales. |
8:28 |
| The Roof | Morales Radio Mix
Produced by David Morales. |
3:58 |
| The Roof | Morales After Hours Mix
Produced by David Morales. |
9:13 |
| The Roof | Morales Bass Man Mix
Produced by David Morales. |
8:14 |
| The Roof | Full Crew Radio Mix feat. Mobb Deep
Produced by Wayne Lawes. |
5:07 |
| The Roof | Full Crew Radio Mix w/o Rap
Produced by Wayne Lawes. |
3:50 |
| The Roof | Full Crew Club Mix feat. Mobb Deep
Produced by Wayne Lawes. |
4:58 |
| The Roof | Full Crews' Club Mix feat. Rimes “Imperial” and Rickardo “The Dreadlocked Lyricist”
Produced by Wayne Lawes. |
4:58 |
| The Roof | Full Crew Club Mix w/o Rap
Produced by Wayne Lawes. |
3:58 |
| The Roof | When I Feel The Need feat. Brandy
Produced by Mariah Carey. |
4:54 |
The music video for “The Roof” was co-directed by Mariah and Diane Martel and premiered on MTV on November 25, 1997. The clip shows Mariah on the back of a limo reminiscing about a romantic encounter.
The music video for the new version of the song, featuring Brandy, was directed by Mariah and premiered on YouTube on September 23, 2022. The clip shows Mariah and Brandy recording the song in Mariah's Atlanta studio, The Butterfly Lounge.
In Europe, “The Roof” was released on March 16, 1998. The CD single includes the album version and the Full Crew Radio Edit No Rap remix. The Maxi Single includes the album version, the radio edit, the Mobb Deep Extended remix and two Full Crew remixes. “The Roof” was also released on 12" vinyl, including the Mobb Deep Extended remix, three Full Crew remixes, produced by Wayne Lawes, and three Morales remixes: Funky Club Mix, After Hours Mix and Bass Man Mix.
The United Kingdom saw the release of “The Roof” on 12" vinyl, with the same tracklisting as the European vinyl release.
It wasn't raining yet
But it was definitely a little misty on
That warm November night
And my heart was pounding
My inner voice resounding
Begging me to turn away
But I just had to see your face
To feel alive
And then you casually walked in the room
And I was twisted in the web
Of my desire for you
(And I was twisted)
My apprehension blew away
I only wanted you
To taste my sadness
As you kissed me in the dark
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night
And so we finished the Moët and
I started feeling liberated
And I surrendered as you took me in your arms
I was so caught up in the moment
I couldn't bear to let you go yet
So I threw caution to the wind
And started listening to my longing heart
And then you softly pressed your lips to mine
And feelings surfaced I'd suppressed
For such a long time
(And I was lifted)
And for a while I forgot
The sorrow and the pain
And melted with you as we stood
There in the rain
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night
Last night I dreamed that I
Whispered the words I love you
And touched you so very
Subtly as we were kissing goodbye
(Pretty baby - How I'm missing you)
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
(Envision you caressing me)
And go back in time
(I go back)
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night
(On the roof that rainy night)
Every time I feel the need
(When I feel the need)
I envision you caressing me
(I envision you over and over and over again)
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
(It was oh so sweet you and I)
On the rooftop that rainy night
(On that rainy night)
Every time I feel the need
(Last night I had the strangest dream…)
I envision you caressing me
(It was actually quite symbolic)
And go back in time
(As I whispered… That I loved you)
To relive the splendor of you and I
(…very subtly)
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night
Lyrics: M. Carey. Music: M. Carey, J.C. Olivier, S. Barnes, C. Rooney, A. Johnson, K. Muchita.
Produced by Poke and Tone, Mariah Carey.
It wasn't raining yet
But it was definitely a little misty on
That warm November night
And my heart was pounding
My inner voice resounding
Begging me to turn away
But I just had to see your face
To feel alive
And then you casually walked in the room
And I was twisted in the web
Of my desire for you
(And I was twisted)
My apprehension blew away
I only wanted you
To taste my sadness
As you kissed me in the dark
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night
And so we finished the Moët and
I started feeling liberated
And I surrendered as you took me in your arms
I was so caught up in the moment
I couldn't bear to let you go yet
So I threw caution to the wind
And started listening to my longing heart
And then you softly pressed your lips to mine
And feelings surfaced I'd suppressed
For such a long time
(And I was lifted)
And for a while I forgot
The sorrow and the pain
And melted with you as we stood
There in the rain
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night
Last night I dreamed that I
Whispered the words I love you
And touched you so very
Subtly as we were kissing goodbye
Mobb Deep:
I got you stuck off the realness
Feel this pourin' down on your buildings
The rain about to fall us
Score up in the project hall
Third floor gravitates on the staircase
As we embrace strictly loud without the raw bass
Me and my ol' dog blowin' out the smokes fog
But over all you the one that's like my pistol
I said crystal
Keep you on my side till the ficial
Ain't it ill how we click boo, me and you
Got me stuck off the realness
Just me and you
Up on the roof beats
Pebble beach
Talk to me anytime
Even when I'm wit my peeps
Ruler L why you smell like the perfume Chanel
Push big G's
Rappin' all is simply heavy
We can do it on the roof top
Do it till we both drop
M-O-B-B with Mariah sounds so hot
Mariah:
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
(Envision you caressing me)
And go back in time
(I go back)
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night
(On the roof that rainy night)
Every time I feel the need
(When I feel the need)
I envision you caressing me
(I envision you over and over and over again)
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
(It was oh so sweet you and I)
On the rooftop that rainy night
(On that rainy night)
Every time I feel the need
(Last night I had the strangest dream…)
I envision you caressing me
(It was actually quite symbolic)
And go back in time
(As I whispered… That I loved you)
To relive the splendor of you and I
(…very subtly)
Every time I feel the need
I envision you caressing me
And go back in time
To relive the splendor of you and I
On the rooftop that rainy night
Lyrics: M. Carey. Music: M. Carey, J.C. Olivier, S. Barnes, C. Rooney, A. Johnson, K. Muchita.
Produced by Poke and Tone, Mariah Carey.
