Lyric discussion by Gabigs 

Cover art for Petals lyrics by Mariah Carey

I think that most of the comments above are right, I've read somewhere else that she talks about Tommy Mottola here, his children, and Mariah's sister. This must be the song the most shockingly moving ever for me, because I used to listen to it all the time in such a painful situation that still lingers on. Back in 2000 I was having "true" friends for the first time (a little "sis" and a little "brother"); and then suddenly felt abandoned by them, not only that but betrayed as well...the people I loved the most were somehow the ones that turned the knife inside of me.

"So many I considered Closest to me Turned on a dime and sold me Out dutifully Although that knife was chipping Away at me They turned their eyes away and Went home to sleep ... "

They probably don't even know they hurt me so bad. And then I also cried at the fact that it's been so long since I've been living a life deprived of so much things...I spent so many years doing little more than studying and getting caught up in the worries of becoming a lawyer, that I simply forget to live. And I've got so many regrets about the person I became later, and the people that I lost along the way, probably because of myself... "And I missed a lot of life But l'II recover Though I know you really like To see me suffer Still I wish that you and I'd Forgive each other 'Cause I miss you, Valentine And really loved you..."

Still, the only thing that drives me is the hope that one day I will recover...I will be the unspoiled person that I used to be...but who knows... And how badly I wish I could forgive them, especially the one that mistreated me the most...and how I would like him to see that I always loved him, probably more than anyone else...I need to forgive to move on, and I desperately need to feel at peace with myself for once.

I love Petals - thank you Mariah