Whitney Houston

Released: November 26, 1996

Songwriter: Annie Lennox

Producer: Steve Lipson

[Intro]
Well there's a bridge and there's a river that I still must cross
As I'm going on my journey
Oh, I might be lost

[Verse 1]
And there's a road I have to follow, a place I have to go
Well no-one told me just how to get there
But when I get there I'll know
Because I'm taking it

[Chorus]
Step By Step, Bit by Bit
Stone By Stone (Yeah), Brick by Brick (Oh, yeah)
Step By Step, Day By Day, Mile by mile (ooh, ooh, ooh)

[Verse 2]
And this old road is rough and ruined
So many dangers along the way
So many burdens might fall upon me
So many troubles that I have to face

[Bridge]
Oh, but I won't let my spirit fail me
Oh, I won't let my spirit go
Until I get to my destination
I'm going to take it slowly because I'm making it mine

[Chorus]
Step By Step (you know I'm taking it), bit by bit (bit by bit, come move)
Stone by stone (yeah), brick by brick (brick by brick by brick by brick mmm...)
Step by step (step by step uh-huh), day by day (day by day-ee)
Mile by mile (ooh), go your own way

[Verse 3]
Say it, baby, don't give up
You got to hold on to what you got
Oh, baby, don't give up
You got to keep on moving on don't stop (yeah yeah)
I know you're hurting, and i know you're blue
I know you're hurting but don't let the bad things get to you

[Chorus]
Step By Step (you know I'm taking it), bit by bit (bit by bit, come move)
Stone by stone (yeah), brick by brick (brick by brick by brick by brick mmm...)
Step by step (step by step uh-huh), day by day (day by day-ee)
Mile by mile (ooh), go your own way

[Outro]
(come on baby got to keep moving)
(i'm taking it step by step), bit by bit
Stone by stone (yeah, stone by stone), brick by brick
Come on baby
Step by step keep on moving, day by day (day by day-ee)
Mile by mile by mile by mile,go your own way
Come on baby got to keep moving, bit by bit (bit by bit, bit by bit)

Known across the pop culture spectrum as the “Queen of Pop” and “The Voice” for her mezzo-soprano octave, Whitney Elizabeth Houston left an indelible impression upon pop culture. She is one of the most successful artists of all time, with more than 200 million albums sold worldwide.

Born August 9, 1963, Houston grew up singing as part of the gospel choir at her local church. She was surrounded by powerful voices in her own family (mother Cissy Houston, cousin Dionne Warwick, godmother Darlene Love, honorary aunt Aretha Franklin). After working as a model and commercial actress in the early 1980s, Whitney was discovered during a New York City nightclub performance, which led to her signing a contract with Clive Davis at Arista Records. Whitney’s first song was a duet in 1984 with Teddy Pendergrass on “Hold Me.”

She released her self-titled début album the following year, which catapulted her into superstardom as the album topped the Billboard 200 for 14 non-consecutive weeks before becoming the top-selling album of 1986, eventually achieving diamond status in the US and selling over 22 million copies worldwide. The singles “Saving All My Love For You,” “How Will I Know,” and “Greatest Love of All” topped the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved platinum status. The music video for “How Will I Know” received heavy rotation on MTV, which was uncommon for Black women at the time. She took home the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance Grammy Award for “Saving” in 1986; her performance at the Grammys of “Saving” later won her an Emmy award. She also won seven American Music Awards between 1986 and 1987.

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