Released: December 3, 2002

Songwriter: Lionel Cole Mariah Carey

Producer: Randy Jackson Mariah Carey

[Intro]
Now you're shining, now you're shining
Shining like a sunflower up in the sky
Shining like a sunflower up in the sky

[Verse 1]
Thank you for forgiving
Hurtful things I've done
As a child, adolescent or woman
Thank you for embracing a flaxen-haired baby
Although I'm aware you had your doubts
(I guess anybody would have doubts)
I guess anybody have a doubt

[Verse 2]
Please be at peace, father
I'm at peace with you
Bitterness isn't worth clinging to
After all the anguish we've all been through

[Verse 3]
Thank you for the mountains
The lake of the clouds
I'm picturing you and me there, right now
As the crystal cascades showered down

[Verse 4]
Strange to feel that proud, strong man
Grip tightly to my hand
Hard to see the life inside
Wane as the days went by
Trying to preserve each word
He murmured in my ear
Watch part of my life disappear

[Verse 5]
Father, thanks for reaching out and lovingly
Saying that you've always been proud of me
I needed to feel that so desperately
(Now you're shining like a sunflower up in the sky)
You're always alive inside of me (Way up high)

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey (born March 27, 1970) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, and philanthropist.

Under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, Carey released her self-titled debut studio album Mariah Carey in 1990; it went multi-platinum and spawned four consecutive number one singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Following her marriage to Mottola in 1993 and success with hit records “Emotions” (1991), “Music Box” (1993), and “Merry Christmas” (1994), Carey was established as Columbia’s highest-selling act. Daydream (1995) made music history when its second single “One Sweet Day”, a duet with Boyz II Men, spent a record sixteen weeks on top of the Billboard Hot 100, and remains the longest-running number-one song in U.S. chart history, along with Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito.” During the recording of the album, Carey began to deviate from her R&B and pop beginnings and slowly traversed into hip hop. This musical change became evident with the release of Butterfly (1997), at which time Carey had separated from Mottola.