"Waterfalls"
Single by TLC from the album CrazySexyCool
Released	1995
Format	CD Single
Genre	R&B
Length	4:39
Label	LaFace
Writer	Marqueze Etheridge, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Organized Noize
Producer	Organized Noize
Certification	RIAA: Platinum
TLC singles chronology
"Red Light Special" (1995) "Waterfalls" (1995) "Diggin' On You" (1995)

"Waterfalls" is a 1995 hit R&B single and signature song by female trio TLC. The song was produced by the Organized Noize team and written by Marqueze Etheridge, TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Organized Noize. It was the 2nd biggest Hot 100 Single of 1995, according to Billboard's Year End Charts.

Details

The music video featured Ella Joyce, Bokeem Woodbine, Shyheim, Paul J. Alessi and Gabrielle Bramford. The song and video tackle the issues of drug dealing and AIDS. Writer Etheridge explains that the image of a waterfall was chosen because it's "one of the most beautiful things in the world, but at the same time is one of the most deadliest" [sic].

The chorus urges caution:

Don't go chasing waterfalls, please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to

I know that you're gonna have it your way or nothing at all, but I think you're moving too fast...

The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for seven weeks from July 8, 1995. It was later parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic as "Phony Calls", a reference to prank calls. The background vocals on the recording are performed by the members of TLC, Debra Killings, and Cee-Lo.

Although this song shares the same title, a similar melody and a few words at the start of some lines as "Waterfalls" by Paul McCartney, no legal action was taken by the former member of The Beatles against TLC.^[1]

'Waterfalls' was placed in VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the Past 25 Years, charting at #13.

Chart performance

Notes

References

• The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits (fifth edition)

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