Anytime You Need a Friend
"Anytime You Need a Friend" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. The song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff, for her third studio album, Music Box (1993). It was released on May 31, 1994 through Columbia Records, as the fourth and final single from the album. The song is influenced by pop, R&B and gospel music genres. While the album focused heavily on pop oriented and radio friendly material, "Anytime You Need a Friend" deviated from the formula, finishing as the only gospel-infused song on Music Box. Lyrically, the song's protagonist tells her love interest that anytime he may need a friend, she will be there unconditionally for him. Throughout the song's bridge and climax, critics noted the lyrics altering from those of a friend, to those of a lover.
The song was well received by contemporary music critics, many of which praised Carey's large spanning vocal range, as well as its gospel influence that they felt was missing on most of Music Box. Aside from its critical acceptance, the song achieved strong worldwide chart positions and peaked at number twelve on the US Billboard Hot 100, but became her first single to miss out the top-ten. Additionally, it peaked at number five in Canada and topped the singles charts in Finland and the Netherlands. The song attained a top-twenty peak position in Australia, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Anytime You Need A Friend
La La La
La La
La La La
La La
When your sad
When your feeling low
When your hurt
And don't know where to go
Think of me. there i'll be
Anytime you need a friend
When your down
And your luck runs out
Or if your in trouble or in doubt
It's Ok..turn my way
Anytime you need a friend
[Chorus]
La La La
La La
La La La
All our lives
Anywhere we are
Just reach out I'll
Never be to far
Come what mayWhen your scared
I will stay with you
When you feel your fallin'
I'll lift you
When your heartbreaks I'll
Ease your aches,
Whatever it takes I'm in
Anytime you need a friend
There I'll stay
Anytime you need a friend
[Chorus]
When you need a friend
Come what may, there i'll stay
Now until the very end
Anytime you need a friend
La La La
La La La
La La