Just You And I

Album: Better Days And Happy Endings (1976)
Charted: 27
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Written by Melissa Manchester and Carole Bayer Sager, "Just You And I" describes two people who help each other out in the face of a struggle. These kind of songs are often about a romantic couple, but this one has a different meaning, according to Manchester.

    "It was written in the early '70s at the point of the burgeoning woman's movement, so it was written about women's solidarity in that time," she told Songfacts.
  • "Just You and I" was the third hit for Melissa Manchester, following "Midnight Blue" and "Just Too Many People." She remained quite popular into the early '80s; her last big hit came in 1982 with "You Should Hear How She Talks About You." Manchester later ventured into acting (she played Blossom's mom on Blossom), teaching and musical theater.
  • Manchester often wrote with Carole Bayer Sager around this time. They were one of the few all-female writing teams of the era. Some of their other songs include "Midnight Blue" and "Come In From The Rain," a hit for Captain & Tennille.
  • In 2020, Manchester re-recorded this song and released it with a video paying tribute to the essential workers putting themselves at risk during COVID. Gerald Albright played saxophone on this version and students from Citrus College, a community college in Glendora, California, add backing vocals. This version appears on Manchester's 2024 album Re:View.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"

Chris Frantz - "Genius of Love"They're Playing My Song

Chris and his wife Tina were the rhythm section for Talking Heads when they formed The Tom Tom Club. "Genius of Love" was their blockbuster, but David Byrne only mentioned it once.

Dean Pitchford

Dean PitchfordSongwriter Interviews

Dean wrote the screenplay and lyrics to all the songs in Footloose. His other hits include "Fame" and "All The Man That I Need."

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star Riders

Scott Gorham of Thin Lizzy and Black Star RidersSongwriter Interviews

Writing with Phil Lynott, Scott saw their ill-fated frontman move to a darker place in his life and lyrics.