"Just Because" is an unreleased song by John Legend featuring Ariana Grande intended for his ninth studio album, Legend.
Background[]
The demo for the song leaked on July 6, 2022, after snippets starting leaking the day before.
On August 6, 2022, the official track-list for John Legend’s album 'Legend' (which the song was speculated to be a part of), was soon revealed through John Legend's social media accounts. When his album was soon released 'Just Because' did not appear on the tracklist, leading the fans to believe that the song was scrapped off the album.
The first snippet of the final leaked on October 27, 2022. A second snippet of the final was leaked on February 14, 2023, alongside Tayla Parx’s writers demo, thanks to a groupbuy that had been set up two days prior. That same night, the final version leaked with Ariana’s vocals and an extended verse.
Audios[]
- Writer's Reference (John Legend ft. Tayla Parx) - ( listen)
- Demo - ( listen)
- Final Version - ( listen)
Trivia[]
- When "Fuckin' With You" was discovered, it was at first believed to be the final version of "Just Because", but it was soon later revealed that they were completely two different songs.
- This is Ariana's second unreleased collaboration with John Legend.
- The song was recorded by pop-singer, R&B singer John Legend and Ariana Grande in 2021 during their time on "The Voice" Season 21.
- The song was written and produced by Nile Rodgers, as he said back in an interview in Oct 2021, confirming that he just finished writing a song with Ariana Grande and John Legend.[1]
Lyrics[]
[Verse 1: John Legend & Both]
Sometimes, sometimes we forget to call just to say
I'm thinking 'bout you, forgot to ask 'bout your day
Down in the weeds so the trees go unnoticed
Look up, acknowledge the forest
Sometimes life slips away
[Chorus: Both]
So when's the last time you gave a fuck just out of love?
Last time you gave it, even when you didn’t have enough
When’s the last time you heard somebody, when they thought they couldn’t tell nobody?
When’s the last time, when’s the last time you loved just because?
Ooh, you loved just because, just because?
[Verse 2: John Legend & Both]
Sometimes, sometimes we mix up what we want and need
Sometimes it's easy to forget about the little things
Missin’ the point in the much bigger picture
It's all in the details, go figure
Sometimes we just don't see
[Chorus: Both]
So when's the last time you gave a fuck just out of love?
Last time you gave it, even when you didn’t have enough
When’s the last time you heard somebody, when they thought they couldn’t tell nobody?
So when’s the last time, when’s the last time you loved
Just because?
Ooh, you loved just because, just because?
[Verse 3: Ariana Grande & Both]
24 hours in the day,
but all it takes is second to say
It goes a long way, long way, long way yea, woah yea
Middle cost the time to give you love
to spend a little time to do it
It goes a long way, long way, long way, yeah
[Chorus: Both]
So when's the last time you gave a fuck just out of love?
Last time you gave it, even when you didn’t have enough
When’s the last time you heard somebody, when they thought they couldn’t tell nobody?
So when’s the last time, when’s the last time you loved Just because?
Ooh, you loved just because, just because?