When I Saw You

Mariah Carey's 'When I Saw You' is a heartfelt ballad that captures the overwhelming emotions of love at first sight. The song opens with the imagery of 'soft heavenly eyes' gazing into the narrator, suggesting a divine or otherworldly connection. This moment transcends 'space and time,' indicating that the experience is so profound it feels almost eternal. The narrator is rendered speechless, unable to find words to describe the intensity of the moment, emphasizing the depth of their emotional response.

The chorus reinforces this theme of instant, transformative love. The repeated line 'When I saw you' highlights the pivotal moment when the narrator's life changed forever. The inability to breathe and the feeling of falling deep signify the overwhelming nature of this newfound love. The narrator acknowledges that they will 'never be the same,' indicating that this encounter has fundamentally altered their existence.

The lyrics also explore the idea of love as a once-in-a-lifetime event that 'rushes in' and changes everything. The metaphor of 'dawn's ribbon of light' bursting through the dark symbolizes the awakening and enlightenment that love brings. The narrator initially doubts the reality of this experience, thinking it 'was all untrue,' but eventually comes to a realization that it is indeed real. The song concludes with a sense of timelessness and inevitability, as the narrator declares that their love has 'no beginning and without an end,' solidifying the eternal nature of their bond.