Grosse surprise ! Il ne s'agit pas du tout d'une ballade ! Plutôt un mid-tempo dans la lignée de 'Subtle Invitation'. Une production ciselée, avec de vrais instruments, et ce côté un peu jazzy de 'Subtle Invitation'. Tout laisse à croire que les deux chansons ont dû être composées à la même époque (des rumeurs autour de la sortie d'un morceau intitulé ainsi ont circulé juste avant la sortie de 'Charmbracelet'). Les paroles sont ouvertement gospel, Mariah s'envole vers Dieu quand les temps se font durs. Son pasteur prononce même quelques mots au début du morceau ! Le titre va d'ailleurs être envoyé aux radios gospel US en même temps que l'album. Le morceau monte progressivement en puissance, notamment au niveau des chœurs, contribuant d'autant plus à ce côté gospel. Ajoutez une pincée (mais vraiment une pincée) de high notes et voilà un titre purement Mariah tendance 'Charmbracelet'.
Billboard Single Review: "Fly Like A Bird"
Now that Mariah Carey's comeback year is officially in the history books—complete with three Grammy Awards, two No. 1 singles and the best-selling album of 2005—it is time to get down to business. "The Emancipation of Mimi" spawns yet another career-redefining hit in the sweet, soulful "Fly Like a Bird," an honest-to-God religious mantra about redemption. Set against a low-key, organ-spiced groove that recalls mid-'70s R&B, Carey opens with a pretty, wispy vocal and buoyant harmonies throughout the first chorus before she waves her arms, parts the clouds and wails to the heavens as a mile-high wall of gospel background vocals joins in for the crescendo. The flight of "Bird" from humble call for deliverance into a frenzied ecclesiastic hymn is utterly spine-tingling. A joyful noise.
Fly Like A Bird
Verse 1
Somehow I know that
There's a place up above
With no more hurt and struggling
Free of all atrocities and suffering
Because I feel the unconditional love
From one who cares enough for me
To erase all my burdens
And let me be free to
Chorus
Fly like a bird
Take to the sky
I need you now Lord
Carry me high
Don't let the world break me tonight
I need the strength of you by my side
Sometimes this life can be so cold
I pray you'll come and carry me home
Verse 2
Can we recover
Will the world ever be
A place of peace and harmony
With no war and with no brutality
If we loved each other
We would find victory
But in this harsh reality
Sometimes I'm so despondant
That I feel the need to
Chorus 2
Fly like a bird
Take to the sky
I need You now Lord
Carry me high
Don't let the world break me tonight
I need the strength of You by my side
Sometimes this life can be so cold
I pray You'll come and carry me home
Bridge
Keep your head to the sky
With God's love you'll survive
Outro
Fly like a bird
Take to the sky
I need you now Lord
Carry me high
Don't let the world break me tonight
I need the strength of You by my side
Sometimes this life can be so cold
I pray You'll come and carry me home
Carry me higher, higher, higher
Carry me higher, higher, higher
Carry me home
Higher Jesus
Carry me higher Lord
