Description
“Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. featuring Bill Withers is a smooth jazz, R&B, and quiet storm classic from Washington’s 1980 album Winelight. Released as a single in February 1981 by Elektra Records, the song became one of the most elegant and recognizable love songs of the early 1980s. It was written by Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald, and William Salter, and produced by Grover Washington Jr., Ralph MacDonald, and Jonathan Johnson.
Musically, “Just the Two of Us” blends jazz, R&B, smooth soul, and quiet storm. The arrangement is built around a sophisticated groove with Grover Washington Jr.’s saxophone, Bill Withers’ warm lead vocals, Richard Tee’s electric piano, Steve Gadd’s drums, Eric Gale’s guitar, and Marcus Miller’s bass guitar. The song is written in F minor and uses a rich jazz-influenced chord progression that gives it a romantic, polished, and timeless sound.
The lyrics describe an intimate love built on trust, hope, and shared moments. Withers’ vocal delivery is relaxed and conversational, while Washington’s saxophone lines add a smooth, emotional quality that makes the track feel both romantic and refined. The song’s title phrase has become one of the most recognizable expressions of togetherness in popular music.
“Just the Two of Us” became a major commercial success. It reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1981, staying there for three weeks, and also reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and No. 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was Grover Washington Jr.’s only Top 40 hit, while also becoming one of Bill Withers’ most enduring vocal performances.
One curiosity about the song is that the instrumental track came first. Ralph MacDonald and William Salter wrote the music, and MacDonald later contacted Bill Withers, who added the lyrics. That collaboration gave the track its unusual balance: it works both as a smooth jazz instrumental showcase and as a memorable vocal love song.
Another important detail is its Grammy success. “Just the Two of Us” won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards, while Grover Washington Jr. also received nominations connected to the song.
The song has had a long cultural life through covers, samples, and media appearances. Will Smith used elements of it for his 1997 rap song “Just the Two of Us,” turning the romantic theme into a father-son tribute. Japanese singer Toshinobu Kubota also covered it as a duet with Caron Wheeler, and the original song later found renewed attention through TikTok in 2020.
Lyrics
I see the crystal raindrops fall
And the beauty of it all
Is when the Sun comes shining through
To make those rainbows in my mind
When I think of you sometime
And I want to spend some time with you
Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us (just the two of us)
Just the two of us
Building castles in the sky
Just the two of us
You and I
We look for love, no time for tears
Wasted water's all that is
And it don't make no flowers grow
Good things might come to those who wait
But not for those who wait too late
We gotta go for all we know
Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us (just the two of us)
Just the two of us
Building them castles in the sky
Just the two of us
You and I
I hear the crystal raindrops fall
On the window, down the hall
And it becomes the morning dew
And, darling, when the morning comes
And I see the morning Sun
I want to be the one with you
Just the two of us
We can make it if we try
Just the two of us, just (just the two of us)
Just the two of us
Building big castles way up high
Just the two of us
You and I
Just the two of us
(We can make it, just the two of us)
Let's get it together, baby (yeah)
(Just the two of us)
Just the two of us
(We can make it, just the two of us)
(Just the two of us)
(We can make it, just the two of us)
(Just the two of us)
(We can make it, just the two of us)
(Just the two of us)
(We can make it, just the two of us)
(Just the two of us)
(We can make it, just the two of us)
(Just the two of us)
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Specification
“Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. featuring Bill Withers is a smooth jazz, R&B, and quiet storm classic from Washington’s 1980 album Winelight. Released as a single in February 1981 by Elektra Records, the song became one of the most elegant and recognizable love songs of the early 1980s. It was written by Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald, and William Salter, and produced by Grover Washington Jr., Ralph MacDonald, and Jonathan Johnson.
Musically, “Just the Two of Us” blends jazz, R&B, smooth soul, and quiet storm. The arrangement is built around a sophisticated groove with Grover Washington Jr.’s saxophone, Bill Withers’ warm lead vocals, Richard Tee’s electric piano, Steve Gadd’s drums, Eric Gale’s guitar, and Marcus Miller’s bass guitar. The song is written in F minor and uses a rich jazz-influenced chord progression that gives it a romantic, polished, and timeless sound.
The lyrics describe an intimate love built on trust, hope, and shared moments. Withers’ vocal delivery is relaxed and conversational, while Washington’s saxophone lines add a smooth, emotional quality that makes the track feel both romantic and refined. The song’s title phrase has become one of the most recognizable expressions of togetherness in popular music.
“Just the Two of Us” became a major commercial success. It reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1981, staying there for three weeks, and also reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and No. 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was Grover Washington Jr.’s only Top 40 hit, while also becoming one of Bill Withers’ most enduring vocal performances.
One curiosity about the song is that the instrumental track came first. Ralph MacDonald and William Salter wrote the music, and MacDonald later contacted Bill Withers, who added the lyrics. That collaboration gave the track its unusual balance: it works both as a smooth jazz instrumental showcase and as a memorable vocal love song.
Another important detail is its Grammy success. “Just the Two of Us” won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards, while Grover Washington Jr. also received nominations connected to the song.
The song has had a long cultural life through covers, samples, and media appearances. Will Smith used elements of it for his 1997 rap song “Just the Two of Us,” turning the romantic theme into a father-son tribute. Japanese singer Toshinobu Kubota also covered it as a duet with Caron Wheeler, and the original song later found renewed attention through TikTok in 2020.
Specification
“Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. featuring Bill Withers is a smooth jazz, R&B, and quiet storm classic from Washington’s 1980 album Winelight. Released as a single in February 1981 by Elektra Records, the song became one of the most elegant and recognizable love songs of the early 1980s. It was written by Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald, and William Salter, and produced by Grover Washington Jr., Ralph MacDonald, and Jonathan Johnson.
Musically, “Just the Two of Us” blends jazz, R&B, smooth soul, and quiet storm. The arrangement is built around a sophisticated groove with Grover Washington Jr.’s saxophone, Bill Withers’ warm lead vocals, Richard Tee’s electric piano, Steve Gadd’s drums, Eric Gale’s guitar, and Marcus Miller’s bass guitar. The song is written in F minor and uses a rich jazz-influenced chord progression that gives it a romantic, polished, and timeless sound.
The lyrics describe an intimate love built on trust, hope, and shared moments. Withers’ vocal delivery is relaxed and conversational, while Washington’s saxophone lines add a smooth, emotional quality that makes the track feel both romantic and refined. The song’s title phrase has become one of the most recognizable expressions of togetherness in popular music.
“Just the Two of Us” became a major commercial success. It reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1981, staying there for three weeks, and also reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and No. 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was Grover Washington Jr.’s only Top 40 hit, while also becoming one of Bill Withers’ most enduring vocal performances.
One curiosity about the song is that the instrumental track came first. Ralph MacDonald and William Salter wrote the music, and MacDonald later contacted Bill Withers, who added the lyrics. That collaboration gave the track its unusual balance: it works both as a smooth jazz instrumental showcase and as a memorable vocal love song.
Another important detail is its Grammy success. “Just the Two of Us” won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards, while Grover Washington Jr. also received nominations connected to the song.
The song has had a long cultural life through covers, samples, and media appearances. Will Smith used elements of it for his 1997 rap song “Just the Two of Us,” turning the romantic theme into a father-son tribute. Japanese singer Toshinobu Kubota also covered it as a duet with Caron Wheeler, and the original song later found renewed attention through TikTok in 2020.
Specification
“Just the Two of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. featuring Bill Withers is a smooth jazz, R&B, and quiet storm classic from Washington’s 1980 album Winelight. Released as a single in February 1981 by Elektra Records, the song became one of the most elegant and recognizable love songs of the early 1980s. It was written by Bill Withers, Ralph MacDonald, and William Salter, and produced by Grover Washington Jr., Ralph MacDonald, and Jonathan Johnson.
Musically, “Just the Two of Us” blends jazz, R&B, smooth soul, and quiet storm. The arrangement is built around a sophisticated groove with Grover Washington Jr.’s saxophone, Bill Withers’ warm lead vocals, Richard Tee’s electric piano, Steve Gadd’s drums, Eric Gale’s guitar, and Marcus Miller’s bass guitar. The song is written in F minor and uses a rich jazz-influenced chord progression that gives it a romantic, polished, and timeless sound.
The lyrics describe an intimate love built on trust, hope, and shared moments. Withers’ vocal delivery is relaxed and conversational, while Washington’s saxophone lines add a smooth, emotional quality that makes the track feel both romantic and refined. The song’s title phrase has become one of the most recognizable expressions of togetherness in popular music.
“Just the Two of Us” became a major commercial success. It reached No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in May 1981, staying there for three weeks, and also reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart and No. 3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was Grover Washington Jr.’s only Top 40 hit, while also becoming one of Bill Withers’ most enduring vocal performances.
One curiosity about the song is that the instrumental track came first. Ralph MacDonald and William Salter wrote the music, and MacDonald later contacted Bill Withers, who added the lyrics. That collaboration gave the track its unusual balance: it works both as a smooth jazz instrumental showcase and as a memorable vocal love song.
Another important detail is its Grammy success. “Just the Two of Us” won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 24th Annual Grammy Awards, while Grover Washington Jr. also received nominations connected to the song.
The song has had a long cultural life through covers, samples, and media appearances. Will Smith used elements of it for his 1997 rap song “Just the Two of Us,” turning the romantic theme into a father-son tribute. Japanese singer Toshinobu Kubota also covered it as a duet with Caron Wheeler, and the original song later found renewed attention through TikTok in 2020.
