Williams' life mixed tremendous success with violence and drug addiction. He was a longtime friend of Little Richard, with whom his life and music intertwined from their meeting in 1955 to Williams' passing in 1980.
Just Because
Larry Williams Lyrics
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DO YOU THINK THAT I WILL SIT AND CRY?
EVEN IF MY HEART SHOULD TELL ME SO,
DARLING, I WOULD RATHER LET YOU GO.
I KNOW YOU THINK YOU'RE SMART,
JUST RUNNIN' AROUND BREAKING LOVERS HEARTS.
BEFORE I LET THIS HAPPEN TO ME
I KNOW YOU THINK YOU'RE SMART,
JUST RUNNIN' AROUND BREAKING LOVERS HEARTS
JUST BECAUSE I WANT SOMEONE WHO'S KIND,
WITH A HEART AS GOOD AND PURE AS MINE.
BUT MAYBE I AM ASKING FOR TOO MUCH,
DARLING, PLEASE DON'T EVER BREAK MY HEART.
I KNOW YOU THINK YOU'RE SMART,
JUST RUNNIN' AROUND BREAKING LOVERS HEARTS
JUST BECAUSE I WANT SOMEONE WHO'S KIND,
WITH A HEART AS GOOD AND PURE AS MINE.
BUT MAYBE I AM ASKING FOR TOO MUCH,
DARLING, PLEASE DON'T EVER BREAK MY HEART.
Larry Williams's song, Just Because, delves into the feelings of a person who has been left behind by their lover, but refuses to be broken by the experience. The singer feels that just because their lover has left and said goodbye, it doesn’t mean they will sit and cry. They would rather let them go than allow them to break their heart.
The lyrics point out that the person who left thinks they are smart by running around breaking lovers' hearts. However, the singer is not willing to accept the same fate and would rather swim the sea than let it happen. They desire someone who is kind with a pure heart, similar to theirs. But, the singer recognizes that asking for someone with a pure heart may be too much. The last line leaves a plea for their lover to not break their heart.
Overall, the song speaks about the resilience of the human heart, the pain of heartbreak, and the desire for genuine love. The singer refuses to be crushed by heartbreak and instead chooses to let their lover go, recognizing that the right person will come along eventually.
Line by Line Meaning
JUST BECAUSE YOU LEFT AND SAID GOODBYE,
Just because you chose to leave and say goodbye to me,
DO YOU THINK THAT I WILL SIT AND CRY?
Do you think that I will do nothing else but sit and cry because you left?
EVEN IF MY HEART SHOULD TELL ME SO,
Even if my heart tells me that I should feel sad,
DARLING, I WOULD RATHER LET YOU GO.
I would rather let you go than let you break my heart.
I KNOW YOU THINK YOU'RE SMART,
I know you consider yourself clever,
JUST RUNNIN' AROUND BREAKING LOVERS HEARTS.
by going around hurting people who love and care for you.
BEFORE I LET THIS HAPPEN TO ME
Before I allow you to break my heart like you did to others,
DARLING I WOULD RATHER SWIM THE SEA
I would rather endure any hardship, even swim the sea, than go through that.
JUST BECAUSE I WANT SOMEONE WHO'S KIND,
Just because I want someone who is kind and caring,
WITH A HEART AS GOOD AND PURE AS MINE.
someone who has a heart as good and pure as mine.
BUT MAYBE I AM ASKING FOR TOO MUCH,
But maybe that is too much to ask for,
DARLING, PLEASE DON'T EVER BREAK MY HEART.
Please don't ever make me experience the pain of a broken heart.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LLOYD PRICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind