11 Incredible JUST Songs, Vol. 3 features songs by Doris Troy, Jack Harlow, Lil Uzi Vert, Morgan Wallen, and Ryan Gosling.
Quoting myself, in September 2022, I asserted, โEven with two volumes under our belt, there are more just songs where that came from, so, volume 3 is in the realm of possibility!โ Well, folks, the time has come to get J-U-S-T again! Every song title in 11 Incredible JUST Songs, Vol. 3 must feature the word just. Simple and uncomplicated, right? Right! This third volume arrives two and a half years after 11 Incredible JUST Songs, Vol. 1 (2022) and 11 Incredible JUST Songs, Vol. 2 (2022). 11 Incredible JUST Songs, Vol. 3 features songs by Doris Troy, Jack Harlow, Lil Uzi Vert, Morgan Wallen, and Ryan Gosling. This JUST list encompasses country, gospel, pop, R&B, and rap. Thereโs a little bit of everything! So, without further ado, letโs dive right into these incredible JUST songs!
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1. Morgan Wallen, โJust In Caseโ
Iโm The Problem // Big Loud / Mercury // 2025
โI always take it to the edge, then I back it up / They donโt know I got a reason for actinโ up.โ Morgan Wallen is nothing short of polarizing for many reasons. Yet, the Grammy-nominated country musician is extremely successful. Mr. East Tennessee is making bank, period. โJust In Caseโ appears as the fifth track on his fourth studio album, Iโm The Problem. โI ainโt felt a damn thing, baby, after us,โ he continues singing in the second verse, โYeah, Iโm just hopinโ youโll come back to us.โ โJust In Caseโ is NOT your grandfatherโs (or fatherโs, if he is of a certain age) country music. Eight songwriters are credited, including Wallen. Another songwriter, Charlie Handsome (Ryan Vojtesak), and Joey Moi produced this smooth, soulful country-pop cut.
One constant regarding Morgan Wallen is the voice. He delivers smooth vocals with his signature, East Tennessee twang. As the excerpted lyrics suggest, matters of the heart are firmly in play. Backtracking to the first verse, Wallen states, after leaving with someone who he doesnโt know, hypothetically, โI could forget you, girl, for good / Even though I should.โ But does he? Of course not. The chorus says it all, and beautifully, I might add:
โI never let my heart go all the way
Every time I try, I just hit the brakes
And thereโs always a couple tryna take your place
But I never fall in love, baby, just in case.โ
In the bridge, he also backs up his reservations: โYeah, I could have three words on my tongue, But I wonโt ever say โem.โ Perhaps Morgan Wallen is the problem, but there is nothing problematic about the enjoyable and relatable โJust In Caseโ. No, itโs not the country of old but many will still enjoy it, nonetheless.
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2. Jack Harlow, โJust Usโ (Ft. Doja Cat)
โJust Usโ // Generation Now / Atlantic Recording Corporation // 2025
โI wish it was just us in this bitch / but they canโt trust us in this bitch / โCause Iโm tryna bust nuts in this, huh.โ It does not take long for Grammy-nominated rapper Jack Harlow to โreveal his cardsโ on โJust Usโ. He gets โnastyโ early on in the chorus. Sometimes, his sexually charged lines feel, um, clumsy โ would not be the first time. He collaborates with Grammy-winning rapper/singer Doja Cat. Hollywood Cole, Tay Keith, Angel Lopez, Ojivolta, and Dylan Graham produced โJust Us.โ The musical backdrop is warm on this sexy, hip-hop song. Notably, it samples the 2021 song โNOTE TO THE CITY. (INTERLUDE)โ by Boslen featuring Rascals.
Busting nuts is the only ear-catching, slightly WTF moment from Harlow. He censors their rendezvous in the chorus, where โclutchinโโ and โadjustingโ happen, comments on her huskiness, and admits, โI know it sounds like Zack and Cody / This lifeโs sweet, I mean high key.โ That is all before the first verse, where Jack admits, โIโm all on you, falling out my seat.โ I enjoy Doja Catโs aggressive tone, whether or not all of the rhymes land. She delivers some memorable, eyebrow-raising lyrics, regarding sex, of course. โTwo hands on my โfro, starinโ into my soul / Leg up on the chair, hand on that arm, tongue in that throat,โ she spits early in the second verse, adding, the likes of โInsatiable, Iโm like Pac-Man / We go back further than Backgammon,โ and โYou mad cute, I wanโ fuck / Donโt ice box me, letโs touch.โ In the outro, Harlow makes numerous music/song references to Musiq Soulchild (โJust Friendsโ), Bobby V. (โSlow Downโ), and The Temptations. While โJust Usโ is enjoyable enough, it is not game-changing, groundbreaking, or innovative. It is what it is.
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3. Lil Uzi Vert, โJust Wanna Rockโ
Pink Tape // Generation Now / Atlantic // 2023
โDamn / Damn / (MC, make another hit) Whoa / This ainโt what you want (Project-Project X) / This ainโt what you want / This ainโt what you want.โ WOOโฆ methinksโฆ Anyways, Grammy-nominated rapper Lil Uzi Vert is truly one of a kind. They do their own thing on โJust Wanna Rock,โ the promo single from their 2023 LP, Pink Tape. Best described as an experimental trap cut with club elements (this is one you just have to hear), โJust Wanna Rockโ runs just two minutes in change. The energy from Lil Uzi Vert is turned up as they spit over malicious synths, minor key production (McVertt and Synthetic), and a hard-hitting beat. Do they say much in their rhymes? Absolutely not! โI just wanna rock, body-ody, yeah (Shake it down) / Shawty got that body-ody, ah, ah, ah (Shake it down),โ they rap in the sole verse, adding, โHit it once, no ties (Shake it-shake it) / How the fuck you gonโ kill my vibe?โ Perhaps the most colorful moment of his performance is the repeated, โBuh, buh, buh, buh(s)โ in the outro. โJust Wanna Rockโ is, um, interesting!
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4. The Main Ingredient, โJust Donโt Want To Be Lonelyโ
Euphrates River // RCA // 1974
โI donโt mind when you say / That youโre going away / I just donโt wanna be lonely.โ Indeed, The Main Ingredient. Later, โLet the stairs find you there / Waiting at the end of the room / I just donโt wanna be lonely.โ Noted! โJust Donโt Want To Be Lonelyโ is one of the soul collectiveโs most popular songs. Itโs the eighth track from the soul collectiveโs sixth album, Euphrates River, released in 1974. A pop hit, it peaked at no. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. John C. Freeman, Bobby Eli, and Vinnie Barrett penned the oldie, originally recorded by Ronnie Dawson. A big bass line is one of the best features of the song. There are also terrific guitar riffs and a mean groove established by the drums and percussion. The rhythm section is tight. In addition to the rhythm section, the orchestra sounds sweet โ the strings soar. From a music theory perspective, the harmonic scheme is sweet, with some distinct moments that catch the ear. Beyond the instrumental and technical aspects, Cuba Gooding Sr. excels as a frontman. His vocals are buttery smooth. Even before singing one note, he exhibits plenty of personality in the intro (โHey, say, wait a minute / Where you going with that suitcaseโ). Besides bringing the melodies to life, Gooding Sr. also drops some great vocal ad-libs. He gets epic support from The Main Ingredient, who lock into celestial vocal harmonies. The songwriting is electrifying too, as the emphasis is on love and avoiding loneliness. The chorus is the centerpiece:
โIโd rather be loved and needed
Depended on to give a love
I canโt give when youโre gone
When youโre gone
I just donโt want to be lonely
Iโd rather be loved.โ
Word. โJust Donโt Want To Be Lonelyโ is The Main Ingredient at its best.
Appears in :
- The Main Ingredient, Just Donโt Want to Be Lonely: Covers No. 3 (2024)
- The Main Ingredient, Just Donโt Want To Be Lonely: Throwback Vibez
185 (2024)
- 11 Lovely, Lonely Songs, Part 1 (2024)
- 13 More Songs Driven by the Power of BE (2025)
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5. Ryan Gosling, โIโm Just Kenโ
Barbie The Album // Atlantic / Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. // 2023โฏ
โCan you feel the Ken-ergy?โ One of the best (if not the best) moments of Barbie The Album arrives courtesy of Ryan Gosling on โIโm Just Kenโ. Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt pen and produce a bop where the actor, embracing his full-on Ken-ness, is in reflective mode.โฏ It is interesting because we donโt associate Ken dolls (himbos) with having the self-awareness to be introspective โ transcend beyond the six-pack abs and perfect body most of us wonโt have. But Ryan, aka Ken, does just thatโฆ in his own way, mind you. โI have feelings that I canโt explain / Drivinโ me insane,โ he sings, adding, โAll my life, been so polite / But Iโll sleep alone tonight.โ Interesting, isnโt it? In the second verse, he admits to wanting love, asking, โAnd is my moment finally here, or am I dreaming?โ Of course, the chorus is a big deal, where Ken admits, โAnywhere else Iโd be a ten / Is it my destiny to live and die a life of blonde fragility? /โฆ What will it take for her to see the man behind the tan and fight for me.โ Aww
!โฏ Basically, โIโm Just Kenโ is that fierce pop joint you didnโt know you needed in your life!
Appears in :โฏโฏโฏโฏ
- Ryan Gosling, Iโm Just Ken: FIERCE Pop + Rock
32 (2023)โฏโฏ
- Awesome Songs: July 2023
- 13 Compelling Songs About Specific People (2023)โฏ
- 51 Best Songs of 2023
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6. John Conlin, โLove Me Just a Littleโ
โLove Me Just a Littleโ // John Conlin // 2024
โOnly asking you for one thing / I just want it to mean something, oh.โ Honestly, that doesnโt seem like too much to ask, John Conlin. Unfortunately, love is often NOT that simple. The Toronto musician delivers a relatable, well-rounded pop song with โLove Me Just a Littleโ penned with Suzie Buist. The talented Canadian produced it alongside Olle Romo. The sound is a huge selling point. The groove shoโ nuff grooves early on, while those picturesque keys are everything. Conlin has a fantastic backdrop to sing over and sing he does! His vocals are strong and characterized by an authentic and expressive performance. โLove Me Just a Littleโ is relatable, thanks to not only Conlinโs vocal performance but also, the love-driven lyrics. โAlways telling me how Iโm so fine, say anything to get that invite / Know youโre gonna waste my time,โ he sings in the first verse, adding in the second, โLonely nights, I wanna give in / Someone touching my skin / But I been there, and it doesnโt make sense, link up just to have it all end / Never hear from them again.โ Nobody likes a ghost
! The melodies are tuneful throughout, especially in the chorus:
โOh my god, Iโm bleeding every single feeling out
Love me just a little
No one wants to slow dance, what happened to romance?
Love me just a little, just a little right now.โ
The ending of the record is particularly grand, given Conlinโs ad-libs and vocal riffs, as well as the level of energy. All told, John Conlin brings the heat on โLove Me Just a Littleโ.
Appears in :
- John Conlin, Love Me Just a Little: Beaming with Pride
6 (2024)
- Bops That Pop: February 2024
- 50 Bops from 2024 That Make You Beam with Pride
- Intriguing Songs Fueled by LOVE, Vol. 2 (2024)
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7. Jerry Butler, โJust Because I Really Love Youโ
The Ice Man Cometh // UMG Recordings, Inc. // 1968
โJust because I really love you / I let you treat me bad, let you make me sad.โ Love will make you do crazy things or allow yourself to be mistreated. Thatโs what Jerry Butler (1939 โ ) asserts in his classic, โJust Because I Really Love Youโ. โJust Because I Really Love Youโ is the fifth track from his 1968 album, The Ice Man Cometh. Butler penned โJust Becauseโฆโ alongside Kenneth Gamble, Mikki Farrow, and Thomas Randolph Bell. Notably, it was produced by the iconic duo Gamble & Huff (Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff). The instrumental arrangement and production are superb: articulated, biting horns, robust bass, sweet rhythm guitar, and glorious keys. As epic as the musical accompaniment is, the โstar of the showโ is Jerry!
โOh, little girl, I donโt think you mean / To hurt me the way you do,โ Butler sings, adding, โSo, I let you take a whole lot of liberties / A man in love should never do.โ Word. He questions his decision to give her free reign, singing, โTell me, isnโt a beautiful illusion / Holding a man in the palm of your little hand?โ Food for thought. The lyrics are memorable throughout, brought to life masterfully by Butler. He gives his all from a vocal perspective. There is no shortage of authenticity and personality from the legendary musician. His ad-libs towards the end of the song are among his best, showing just how much he loves this woman. A non-single from The Ice Man Cometh, that doesnโt hold โJust Because I Really Love Youโ back from being the crรจme de la crรจme of the Jerry Butler catalog.
Appears in :
- Jerry Butler, Just Because I Really Love You: Throwback Vibez
172 (2024)
- Eye
This List of Must-Hear โIโ Songs, Vol. 2 (2024)
- 13 Intriguing Because Songs (2025)
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8. The Kid LAROI, โWhat Just Happenedโ
THE FIRST TIME // Columbia // 2023
โWhat Just Happenedโ prefaced THE FIRST TIME, the debut album by Grammy-nominated Australian rapper/singer, The Kid LAROI (Charlton Howard). Blake Slatkin, Omer Fedi, and Shellback produced the single that begins with Howard singing abruptly, accompanied by rhythmic electric guitar. He sings the chorus, setting the tone of the record. โWhat Just Happenedโ features its fair share of fine, melodic moments. After initially being accompanied by guitar, the addition of drums and bass ups the ante. Also, upping the ante is the attitude and swagger of The Kid, who drops a couple of f-bombs (โYeah, we both know you donโt give a fuck / Friends with my girl, but you wanna fuckโ). Howardโs second verse is even more rhythmic than the first. The contrast keeps the song engaging. The pre-chorus marks another tuneful moment (โStop it, but you wonโt, wonโt wonโt / Love it, โcause youโre co-coldโฆโ), while the chorus marks one of the best moments of the song:
โI donโt know if we just crossed the line
โCause I donโt even know what just happened
Everything I said last night was lies
โCause I donโt even know what just happened.โ
The Kid LAROI doesnโt reinvent the wheel or pop with โWhat Just Happenedโ, but this is an enjoyable, memorable, and well-rounded song.
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9. Montell Fish, โI Just Wanna Feel Your Love Againโ
โI Just Wanna Feel Your Love Againโ // Lordโs Child // 2023
A slow tempo complements a song that possesses a theme of being brokenhearted, right? Right. Alternative musician Montell Fish keeps the BPMs low on โI Just Wanna Feel Your Love Againโ. In this four-minute-long record, Fish handles the production. The backdrop is lovely, with lush strings featured in the intro, supplanted by guitar accompaniment. The first vocal section of โI Just Wanna Feel Your Love Againโ we hear is the chorus:
โI just wanna feel your love again
I just wanna feel your touch again
But, deep down, I know youโll leave me every time
But, if thatโs the price, I might just turn my eyesโ
Ultimately, the chorus is tender and beautiful. In the verse, Fish laments being without herโฆ This is relatable, though nothing brand-new thematically. The verse is followed by a bridge, where Fish sings in an undertone. The rub is that sometimes it sounds as if he mumbles or doesnโt properly annunciate. This seems to be intentional. Yes, the lyrics are important, but the vibe โ this feeling of desiring a lost love โ is also important to convey. Following the final chorus, there is an outro that sounds raw and separates itself from everything else. Still, it is firmly entrenched in the narrative. All told, Fish delivers an interesting track.
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10. Doris Troy, โJust One Lookโ
Sings Just One Look And Other Memorable Selections // Atlantic // 1963
โJust one look, and I feel so hard / In love with you, oh-oh, oh-oh.โ โOh-ohโ indeed, Doris Troy (1937 โ 2004). The late soul musician had one claim to fame: โJust One Lookโ, the third track from her 1963 debut album, Sings Just One Look And Other Memorable Selections. She and Gregory Carroll penned it. Artie Ripp produced. Notably, โJust One Lookโ marked her sole entry on the pop charts. It peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. The good news is this sole hit by Troy is the bomb! She sings with incredible passion and soul. The melodies are memorable from an initial listen and pleasing to the ears. The lyrics are simple and uncomplicated, yet relatable and unforgettable. Matters of the heart drive the narrative: โSay you will, will be mine / Forever and always, oh-oh-oh-oh.โ The bridge keeps โJust One Lookโ engaging, providing contrast to the verses. She sings, โI thought I was dreaminโ / but I was wrong, yeah, yeah, yeah / Oh, but Iโm gonna keep on scheminโ / โTil I can make you, make you my own.โ Oh, snap! Besides superb vocals and ear-catching lyrics from Taylor, the accompaniment is awesome, too. Groovy and oozing with the vintage soul aesthetic, Doris has ample fuel for her fire. Ultimately, โJust One Lookโ speaks for itself. Yes, it sucks that Troy never earned another hit, but, when your sole hit is the caliber of this one, you count your blessings. She says it best herself in the chorus/outro: โJust one look, thatโs all it took.โ
Appears in :
- Doris Troy, Just One Look: 1 Hit WONDERful 36 (2024)
- 11 Songs Associated with Number One, Vol. 3 (2025)
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11. Willie Neal Johnson & The Keynotes, โJust a Rehearsalโ
Just A Rehearsal // Malaco // 1985
โThis is just a rehearsal, when we get to heaven, yโall / Weโre gonna really sing.โ Think about that key line from the Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes classic, โJust a Rehearsalโ. For those who believe, our life on Earth is the rehearsal for what is to come โ eternity โ ideally in heaven as opposed to hell. Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes already sounded amazing when they recorded this song, which appeared on their 1985 album, Just a Rehearsal.
Willie Neal asserts in the first verse, โI like to sing each and every night / Sometimes this old voice, it just wonโt act right.โ I have no true doubt; we are mere mortals! Johnson and company go on to add, however, โGonna keep on singing so the world will see / When we make it to heaven, weโll sing in perfect harmony.โ Hallelujah ! Backed by a spirited groove, and a bright major key backdrop, it is hard not to feel uplifted and optimistic about eternal life in heaven. Even if you donโt believe, youโve got to appreciate the faith exuded by Willie Neal Johnson and the Gospel Keynotes. The authenticity is lit
! Also, worth checking out is Paul Porter performing this beloved black gospel classic.
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~ Table of Contents ~ // ~ intro ~
11 Incredible JUST Songs, Vol. 3 (2025) [
: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Atlantic Recording Corporation, Big Loud, Columbia, Generation Now, John Conlin, Lordโs Child, Mercury, RCA, UMG Recordings, Inc., Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.; David Wilson from Pexels; AcatXIo from Pixabay]
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