I Just Need U

Album: The Elements (2018)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • TobyMac penned this tune about finding God rather than relying on his own strength with regular collaborator Bryan Fowler and Finding Favour's Blake NeeSmith. He said:

    "'I Just Need U' is where I land time and time again after my futile attempts to handle life on my own. I am a born defector learning every day that the sweetest place and the only right place for me is turning back and falling into the arms of a loving God."
  • This debuted at #1 on Billboard's Hot Christian Songs chart dated January 20, 2018. It was tobyMac's first song to enter at the tally's peak position and his sixth total leader on the listing.
  • TobyMac told Billboard the story of the song:

    "['I Just Need U'] started in a session writing for the band Finding Favour, but they said it wasn't for them. I thought about [it] and began plowing through my feelings. The world tricks us into thinking certain things will fulfill us, [but] time and again I end up hungry. But when I look to my faith, I begin to find a permanent fulfillment. There's depth and there's soul, which is what you would expect from a seasoned artist."

    "We sat on it, but it took a while to find the verses. I think we had 25 versions of the song to get to this point. But we've worked together for a while now and know how to pull the best out of each other. We got into a cool head space and did something we loved. [But] I don't think either of us assumed it was going to be a single."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)

Dick Wagner (Alice Cooper/Lou Reed)Songwriter Interviews

The co-writer/guitarist on many Alice Cooper hits, Dick was also Lou Reed's axeman on the Rock n' Roll Animal album.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In Songs

Sending Out An SOS - Distress Signals In SongsSong Writing

Songs where something goes horribly wrong (literally or metaphorically), and help is needed right away.

Queen

QueenFact or Fiction

Scaramouch, a hoople and a superhero soundtrack - see if you can spot the real Queen stories.

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.

Jimmy Webb

Jimmy WebbSongwriter Interviews

Webb talks about his classic songs "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Wichita Lineman" and "MacArthur Park."