Mariah Carey – Love Takes Time: Lyrics and Music Video
Love Takes Time by Mariah Carey lyrics and music video. You can sing while listening to the song Love Takes Time performed by Mariah Carey. Hope you like the music video and song lyrics for Love Takes Time.
About the Song
[Mariah Carey - Love Takes Time]: Song Overview
Released in September 1990 as the second single from her self-titled debut album, Love Takes Time became Mariah Carey's second consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit. This power ballad showcased Carey's vocal prowess and songwriting talent, cementing her status as a 1990s pop-R&B phenomenon. Notably, the track was added to the album last-minute after label executives recognized its hit potential.
Release and Chart Performance
- Release Date: September 11, 1990
- No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 (3 weeks)
- Top 10 in 10+ countries (No. 9 UK, No. 2 Canada)
- Certified Platinum (US) for 1 million+ sales
- Album Mariah Carey certified 9× Platinum
Musical Style and Themes
A pop-R&B ballad featuring:
- Grand piano arpeggios and sweeping string arrangements
- Carey's signature whistle notes in final chorus
- Lyrical focus on post-breakup vulnerability and healing
"Love takes time to heal when you're hurting so much / Couldn't see that I was blind to let you go"
Meaning of the Song
The lyrics explore emotional aftermath through:
- Regret over failed relationship ("I should have seen the signs")
- Acceptance of gradual recovery process
- Universal relatability of heartbreak
"Can't change the way I feel, I just need time to get over you"
Legacy and Cultural Impact
- Over 150 million streams (combined platforms)
- Featured in Moesha (1996) and RuPaul's Drag Race (2021)
- 1991 ASCAP Pop Award winner
- Inspired covers by Kelly Clarkson (2003) and Leona Lewis (2010)
- Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Mariah Carey Songs (No. 24)
Songwriting Credits
- Written by Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies
- Produced by Walter Afanasieff and Carey
- Key contributor: Rhett Lawrence (initial demo production)
Summary
Love Takes Time remains a cornerstone of Carey's early career, demonstrating her ability to blend technical vocal mastery with raw emotional delivery. Its chart dominance and enduring popularity in throwback playlists solidify its status as both a 90s ballad standard and crucial milestone in Carey's journey to becoming the "Songbird Supreme." The track's timeless theme of heartbreak recovery continues to resonate across generations.
Keywords
- Mariah Carey Love Takes Time lyrics
- Best 90s power ballads
- Mariah Carey debut album songs
- Walter Afanasieff produced tracks
- 1990 Billboard number ones
- Mariah Carey whistle notes
- Ben Margulies collaborations
Mariah Carey: Love Takes Time Lyrics
Couldn’t see I treated you wrong
Now I wander around, feeling down and cold
Trying to believe that you’re gone
Love takes time
To heal when you’re hurting so much
Couldn’t see that I was blind
To let you go
I can’t escape the pain inside
‘Cause love takes time
I don’t wanna be here
I don’t wanna be here alone
I’m losing my mind from this hollow in my heart
Suddenly I’m so incomplete
Lord I’m needing you now
Tell me how to stop the rain
Tears are falling down endlessly
Love takes time
To heal when you’re hurting so much
Couldn’t see that I was blind
To let you go
I can’t escape the pain inside
‘Cause love takes time
And I don’t wanna be here
I don’t wanna be here, alone
You might say that it’s over
You might say that you don’t care
You might say you don’t miss me
You don’t need me
But I know that you do
And I feel that you do inside
Love takes time
To heal when you’re hurting so much
Couldn’t see that I, I was so blind
To let you go
I can’t escape the pain inside
Because love takes time
And I don’t wanna be there
I don’t wanna be there, alone
