"There's Got to Be a Way" is a song written by American singer Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...

 and Ric Wake

Ric Wake

Ric Wake is a record producer who has won an Academy Award and two Grammy Awards. During his tenure as staff producer with Sony Music Entertainment he has worked with vocalists such as Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Jessica Simpson, Barry Manilow, and Marc Anthony...

, and produced by Wake for Carey's debut album Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey (album)

Mariah Carey is the self-titled debut studio album by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It was released on June 12, 1990 by Columbia Records. The album contains a range of contemporary genres, and the songs are a mix of slow ballads and dance tracks. Originally, Carey wrote four songs with...

(1990). Carey had lobbied to co-produce the song, but was denied permission by Columbia Records

Columbia Records

Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...

. The protagonist of this dance song declares "There's got to be a way to connect this world today" and pleads for other ways to help fix the state of the world. It is one of Carey's few socially conscious songs, and deals with racism

Racism

Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...

 and poverty

Poverty

Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...

.

It was released as the album's fifth and final single in the second quarter of 1991 in the United Kingdom and some other European markets. To maintain a then-unbroken string of Billboard Hot 100

Billboard Hot 100

The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...

 number 1 singles, "There's Got to Be a Way" was not released in the United States. The song received little promotion. It was released instead of "I Don't Wanna Cry

I Don't Wanna Cry

"I Don't Wanna Cry" is a song written by Mariah Carey and Narada Michael Walden, and produced by Walden for Carey's debut album, Mariah Carey . The ballad was released as the album's fourth single in the second quarter of 1991. It became another U.S. number 1 single for Carey...

" for the UK market and failed even to reach the top 40, which her previous three singles had all managed. It peaked at number 54, making a brief appearance in the top 75.

Music video

The single's video, directed by Larry Jordan

Larry Jordan

Larry Jordan is an independent filmmaker who has been working in the Bay Area in California since 1955, and making films since 1952. He has produced some 40 experimental and animation films, and three feature-length dramatic films. He is most widely known for his animated collage films. In 1970 he...

, starts off with Carey walking the streets as she laments homeless people and racism. She is soon joined by friends, and they all break into an impromptu

Impromptu

An impromptu is a free-form musical composition with the character of an ex tempore improvisation as if prompted by the spirit of the moment, usually for a solo instrument, such as piano...

 dance in the street. Remixes of the song were commissioned by Shep Pettibone

Shep Pettibone

Robert E. Pettibone, Jr. is a record producer, remixer, songwriter and club DJ, one of the most prolific of the 1980s. His earliest work known to the public was for one of New York City's top disco/dance radio stations, WRKS 98.7 "Kiss" FM, and later as remixer/producer for the disco label Salsoul...

. The 7" remix was also used for the music video.

Track listings

CD single #1

1. "There's Got to Be a Way" (album version)
2. "There's Got to Be a Way" (7" remix)

CD single #2

1. "There's Got to Be a Way" (album version)
2. "I Don't Wanna Cry
   I Don't Wanna Cry
   "I Don't Wanna Cry" is a song written by Mariah Carey and Narada Michael Walden, and produced by Walden for Carey's debut album, Mariah Carey . The ballad was released as the album's fourth single in the second quarter of 1991. It became another U.S. number 1 single for Carey...
   
   "

CD maxi-single #1

1. "There's Got to Be a Way" (album version)
2. "There's Got to Be a Way" (12" remix)
3. "There's Got to Be a Way" (alt. vocal club mix)

CD maxi-single #2

1. "There's Got to Be a Way" (album version)
2. "I Don't Wanna Cry"
3. "There's Got to Be a Way" (12" remix)

UK CD maxi-single

1. "There's Got to Be a Way" (album version)
2. "There's Got to Be a Way" (7" remix)
3. "Someday
   Someday (Mariah Carey song)
   "Someday" is a song written by Mariah Carey and Ben Margulies, and produced by Ric Wake for Carey's debut album, Mariah Carey . It was released as the album's third single in 1990 and is a jackswing-influenced track. Though it topped the U.S. charts, it was not a huge success elsewhere...
   
   " (7" jackswing mix)
4. "Vision of Love
   Vision of Love
   "Vision of Love" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey. It served as Carey's debut single, the first from her self-titled debut album. Written by Carey and Ben Margulies, "Vision of Love" was released on May 15, 1990 by Columbia Records. After being featured on Carey's demo tape for...
   
   "

Charts

Chart (1991)	Peak Position
UK Singles Chart	54