He wrote several songs for the group The Oak Ridge Boys including the No. 1 U.S. Country hit "I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes". The song appeared on his 1981 album Beat of Love, which also included the pop tune "Suzi Found a Weapon", which hit No. 55 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Career:
He was born Randall Van Wormer, in Indian Hills, Colorado, United States, the son of Roger Van Wormer (1919–1967) and Betsy (née Harry; 1919–2006). At 15, three years after the death of his father in an automobile accident, he moved with his mother to Cornwall, England. His experiences there inspired "Just When I Needed You Most".
In a 1989 interview with Release, a now-defunct independent paper from Stanford, California, Van Warmer said that Albert Grossman, the head of Bearsville, would not let him do television or tour the United States, a strategy that did not prove successful.
His follow-up album, Terraform, was dark and (compared to his previous work) almost alternative. According to Release, Terraform sold moderately in Japan and Australia. VanWarmer would later publicly rue his decision to turn away from dreamy ballads. He made two more records at Bearsville: Beat of Love and The Things That You Dream. Beat of Love included the single "Suzi Found a Weapon", a tribute to a Bearsville public relations rep whom VanWarmer would later woo and marry, and which went to No. 1 in Alaska and gained a certain amount of post mortem acclaim (for example, a review by James A. Gardner in AllMusic). But Grossman died soon thereafter, and VanWarmer's future was in doubt.
According to Release, in the mid-1980s Suzi VanWarmer mailed a song called "I Guess It Never Hurts to Hurt Sometimes" from Beat of Love to a friend at MCA, who sent it to Ron Chancey, the producer of the Oak Ridge Boys. They put it on their next album. Charley Pride recorded a song of VanWarmer's, as did Michael Johnson. Moving to Nashville, VanWarmer saw a recording of his song, "I'm in a Hurry (And Don't Know Why)", also No. 1 on the country chart by Alabama.
His final album was a tribute to Stephen Foster, released posthumously only in Japan. According to the CD's liner notes, VanWarmer played all the instruments. The notes also indicate that he completed work on the record a few days after learning he had leukemia; he died at 48, one day before the anniversary of Foster's death.
In line with one of his greatest loves, some of his cremated remains were sent into space in 2007 and then again in 2012 aboard the first successful private space flight to the International Space Station, the SpaceX Dragon vehicle.
Death:
VanWarmer died on January 12, 2004 at the age of 48, in Seattle. He had been suffering from leukemia for the previous year. He is survived by his widow Suzi and his brothers Dave, Mark, and Ron.
Just When I Needed You Most
Randy VanWarmer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I struggled for something to say
You left in the rain without closing the door
I didn't stand in your way
But I miss you more than I missed you before
And now where I'll find comfort, god knows
'Cause you left me just when I needed you most
Now most every morning, I stare out the window
And I think about where you might be
I've written you letters that I'd like to send
If you would just send one to me
'Cause I need you more than I needed before
And now where I'll find comfort, God knows
'Cause you left me just when I needed you most
Left me just when I needed you most
You packed in the morning, I stared out the window
And I struggled for something to say
You left in the rain without closing the door
I didn't stand in your way
Now I love you more than I loved you before
And now where I'll find comfort, God knows
'Cause you left me just when I needed you most
Oh yeah, you left me just when I needed you most
You left me just when I needed you most
The lyrics of Randy VanWarmer's "Just When I Needed You Most" depict a man who misses his loved one who left him at a time when he needed her the most. In the first verse, the singer describes his lover's departure as a hasty one where she left without saying goodbye properly. The singer doesn't reveal why his lover left, but he acknowledges that he didn't stop her from leaving. He misses her terribly and struggles to find comfort in her absence. The chorus emphasizes how his lover left him just when he needed her the most, leaving him feeling lost and alone.
In the second verse, the singer expresses his longing for his lover by revealing that he thinks about her every morning and wishes to send her letters. He still needs her as much as he did before, acknowledging that she was his source of comfort, and with her gone, he's lost. The final verse is a repetition of the first, but this time, the singer expresses his love for his lover, even though she left him when he needed her the most.
The song is touching and relatable, as many people have experienced the pain of a loved one leaving when they needed them the most. The gentle melody and the emotional vocals add to the song's melancholic tone, making it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
You packed in the morning, I stared out the window
I watched you pack in the morning and started to feel lost.
And I struggled for something to say
I didn't know what to say to make you stay.
You left in the rain without closing the door
You left without even saying a proper goodbye.
I didn't stand in your way
I didn't try to stop you from leaving.
But I miss you more than I missed you before
I miss you more now that you're gone.
And now where I'll find comfort, god knows
I don't know where to find solace.
'Cause you left me just when I needed you most
You left me when I needed you the most.
Left me just when I needed you most
You abandoned me at a crucial time.
Now most every morning, I stare out the window
Every day, I look out the window and think of you.
And I think about where you might be
I wonder where you are and what you're doing.
I've written you letters that I'd like to send
I've composed letters that I'd like to mail to you.
If you would just send one to me
If you'd just respond to one of them.
'Cause I need you more than I needed before
I need you more now than ever.
Oh yeah, you left me just when I needed you most
You left me at my lowest point.
You left me just when I needed you most
You left me when I needed you the most.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Randy Van Warmer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tammycaridaugherty1044
This song just popped up on my feed several days ago. My only child passed away last Saturday.Totally unexpected. Her name was Jenny Winfree, only 42 years old. I found her. I have had this song on over and over. It is just so unreal. We will be using this song at her service. If you see this, please send a prayer or good thought out for my sweet baby. I don't know how to go on without her. 😢
@morrisleming6635
Yes this song.. sends waves thru my soul.. Jesus is with your daughter.. walking the shoreline. sunrise .. that red orange.. waves blue green.. holding hands children. all happy... Peace be with you... search Muddy BOOT band . Beaver Utah... Chris Williams.. n.. band
@prozier4378
I’m so sorry for your loss 😢💐
@josephmann9569
God bless you Lady. I’m so sorry for your loss. I just prayed for comfort in this hard difficult time
@deeabell5304
Praying for you 🙏❤
@philipdickey6460
So sorry for your loss, my heart breaks when I think about how my wife left me when I was on my deathbed
@amaasobu3043
Who’s still here 2024….. this song brings memories.
@CarlJohnson-uq1kn
I’m still here listening to to it
@Rescuemacaws
@@CarlJohnson-uq1kn Meee toooo l listen to it every night before l go to sleep.🌹💔
@jayrowe6473
I'm here in 1979. I accidentally discovered a wormhole...