Growing up amidst music, Taylor had one release, "Somewhere to Lay My Head", on Chicago's Chance Records in the 50s as part of a doo-wop group called Five Echoes. Taylor was also part of the gospel group, The Highway QC's also, replacing r&b artist Sam Cooke that had left to become the lead singer of the Soul Stirrers in 1951. Then, after Cooke left the Soul Stirrers in 1957, Taylor was hired to take Cooke's place as lead singer.
A few years later, after Cooke had established his independent SAR Records, Taylor signed on and recorded "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day" in 1962. However, SAR Records quickly became defunct after Cooke's tradic early death in 1964.
In 1966, Taylor moved to Stax Records in Memphis, where he was dubbed "The Philosopher of Soul". While there he recorded with the label's house band, Booker T. & the MGs. His hits included "I Had a Dream", "I've Got to Love Somebody's Baby" (both written by the team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter) and most notably "Who's Making Love?", which reached No. 5 on the Billboard Top 40 and No. 1 on the R&B charts in 1968. During his tenure at Stax, he became an R&B star, with over a dozen chart successes, such as "Cheaper to Keep Her" (Mack Rice) and producer Don Davis's "I Believe in You (You Believe in Me)".
After Stax folded in the mid 1970s, Taylor switched to Columbia Records, where he made his best-known hit, "Disco Lady", in 1976. "Disco Lady" was the first certified platinum single. Columbia pigeonholed Taylor as a disco artist, however, and neglected his wide-ranging talent. Not surprisingly, his record sales slipped.
After a brief stint at Beverly Glen Records, Taylor signed with Malaco Records after the label's founder Tommy Couch and producing partner Wolf Stephenson heard him sing at blues singer Z.Z. Hill's funeral in the spring of 1984. Backed by members of The Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section as well as in-house veterans like former Stax keyboardist Carson Whitsett, Malaco gave Taylor the type of recording freedom that Stax had given him in the late 1960s and early 1970s, enabling him to record ten albums for the Malaco label in his sixteen year stint. Taylor's record sales were good but not enough for the singer to receive the measure of stardom he once had.
In 1996, Taylor's eighth album for Malaco, Good Love!, made it to Number One on Billboard's Blues chart (#15 R&B), the biggest record in Malaco's history.
Malaco recorded a live video of Taylor at the Longhorn Ballroom in Dallas, Texas in the summer of 1997.
Johnnie Taylor's 1999 album, "Gotta Get the Groove Back", also reached the # 1 Position on the Billboard Blues Charts. This album which featured veteran songwriter, Lamar Thmas (Woman don't be Afraid) was also a Grammy Nominated album during the same year that Johnnie passed.
Taylor was given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1999. He died in Dallas at the age of 66.
In what would turn out to be a sad foreshadowing, Taylor's final song was "Soul Heaven", in which he dreamed of being at a concert featuring deceased Soul music icons Otis Redding, Jackie Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, and MGs drummer Al Jackson, among others. In one verse, Taylor sang, "I didn't want to wake up/I was havin' such a good time".
Just Because
Johnnie Taylor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I might be tired
Lady, try to understand
That doesn't mean
That you done something wrong
(Just because)
And just because when we have a little fight
It doesn't mean that I won't be coming home
(Just because)
I love you, I love you
What else can I do or say?
(Just because) Whoa
Honey, I love you, I love you
Whoa, I love you
What would it take
To make you want to stay?
Just because when sometime
You want to make love
Girl, I tell you not tonight
Try to understand
I work hard all day
Darling, I'm doing the best that I can
(Just because) Oh yeah
But if you want to go
It's up to you
But I can tell you right now
My whole world is going to be misty blue
I'm begging you, please
Please, please, please stay
Honey, don't you hear me?
I love you
Oh, I love you
What else can I do or say?
(Just because)
I love you
Oh, I love you, I love you
I love only you
What would it take
To make you want to stay?
(Just because)
Oh, I love you, I love you
(Just because) Ooh
In Johnnie Taylor's song "Just Because," he sings about the misunderstandings and arguments that sometimes happen in romantic relationships. He is trying to communicate to his partner that just because they have disagreements or he gets upset, it doesn't mean that she has done anything wrong. He emphasizes his love for her and asks her to understand and stay with him, even when things get difficult.
The verses outline different scenarios where he might upset her, such as "raising a little sand" or "walking out of the door." Despite all this, he still loves her and wants her to stay, urging her to listen to him when he says "I love you" and asking her what it will take to make her want to stay by his side.
The repetition of "just because" throughout the song puts emphasis on the fact that these small arguments do not need to impact their love for each other. It highlights the idea that misunderstandings can happen in relationships, but that doesn't necessarily mean the end of the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Just because I raise a little sand
If I get a little angry or upset, it doesn't mean there is anything wrong with you.
I might be tired
I may be exhausted and not feeling myself.
Lady, try to understand
My dear, please try to see my perspective.
That doesn't mean
This doesn't imply
That you done something wrong
That you have done anything bad.
And just because when we have a little fight
Additionally, when we occasionally have arguments
And I walk out the door and stay out all night
And I leave the house and don't come back until the morning.
It doesn't mean that I won't be coming home
That doesn't mean I won't come back to you eventually.
I love you, I love you
I adore and cherish you very much.
What else can I do or say?
What other action or words would be sufficient?
(Just because) Whoa
In reference to the previous lines as a general statement.
Honey, I love you, I love you
Dearest, I have deep affection for you.
Whoa, I love you
Wow, how much I cherish you
What would it take
What necessary steps could be taken
To make you want to stay?
For you to remain with me?
Just because when sometime
Even though there are occasions when
You want to make love
You are in the mood for intimacy
Girl, I tell you not tonight
My dear, tonight may not be the night
Try to understand
Please see it from my viewpoint
I work hard all day
I put in long hours at my job
Darling, I'm doing the best that I can
My beloved, I am putting in maximum effort
(Just because) Oh yeah
Referring to the recent lines as a general statement.
But if you want to go
However, if you wish to leave
It's up to you
The choice is yours
But I can tell you right now
But I can inform you presently
My whole world is going to be misty blue
My entire life will be dark and bleak
I'm begging you, please
I am earnestly pleading with you
Please, please, please stay
Remain with me, pretty please
Honey, don't you hear me?
My love, aren't you listening to me?
Oh, I love you
Oh, how much I cherish you
(Just because)
In reference to the previous lines as a general statement.
I love you
I adore you.
Oh, I love you, I love you
Oh, how greatly I cherish you
I love only you
I have deep affection exclusively for you
What would it take
What necessary steps could be taken
To make you want to stay?
For you to remain with me?
(Just because) Ooh
Referencing the previous lines as a general statement
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Johnny Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Linda Lyte
2020 and this is still....a Jam!!
My favorite song by Johnnie Taylor....a Legend💫💫
R.I.P....Mr.Johnnie Taylor
😔🍃
JazzyJ1318
I had the pleasure of seeing JT several times. The most memorable time was in Macon, Ga. Tyrone Davis and Dorothy Moore was on the show. It was a fabulous show. They both wore white suits and Johnnie had diamonds every where! When Dorothy Moore sang Misty Blue, the audience went crazy and she sang it twice! That was a show of shows!!
Erika Hayes
Oooooooooooooooo[[mpl8
Vincent Porter
Banh I
TallTan22
Sure wish Johnny was with us today.
He would've had a packed, sold out house every night....no matter what.
Tonya Parrott
ABSOLUTELY! I'D HAVE BEEN ALL UP IN THERE!
TheJmilli89
Johnnie Taylor had a God given gift.This is still one of many my favorite songs on his.
John McConnell
A legend gone too soon. Great voice.
LORETTA RILEY
IT IS GOOD TO KNOW WE CAN SHOW HIM LOVE ON YOUTUBE. HE IS STILL A GEM. 💎💎💎💎💎
sandra hicks
yes indeed 💯💯