About the song
“You Needed Me” is a heartfelt ballad written by Randy Goodrum, who described it as a reflection on “unconditional undeserved love.” The song achieved remarkable success when Canadian singer Anne Murray released it in 1978. It became a number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a significant moment in Murray’s career and earning her a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. This win was notable as it was the first Grammy awarded to a Canadian artist in this category.
The song was part of Murray’s 1978 album *Let’s Keep It That Way*. Its success was particularly impressive given that it revitalized her career after a period of declining popularity. “You Needed Me” was her first Top 40 hit in the U.S. since her 1974 cover of The Beatles’ “You Won’t See Me.” Beyond its success on the Billboard Hot 100, the song also made a significant impact on the Country charts, reaching the top five, and was a top-30 hit in the UK.
Anne Murray’s emotional connection to the song was evident; she was so moved by it that she reportedly cried during her first attempt to record it. This deep emotional resonance contributed to its success and is reflected in its enduring popularity. The song spent a record 36 weeks on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, a record that stood until 1990. It also achieved significant international success, topping the charts in Malaysia for ten weeks.
In 2007, Anne Murray revisited the song by re-recording it as a duet with Shania Twain for her album *Duets: Friends & Legends*. “You Needed Me” also made notable appearances in popular culture, including a storyline on the soap opera *Guiding Light* and a performance by Seth MacFarlane as Stewie Griffin on *Family Guy*. The song’s touching lyrics and Murray’s moving performance continue to resonate with audiences, solidifying its place as a classic in pop and country music history.
Video
Lyrics
I cried a tear
You wiped it dry
I was confused
You cleared my mind
I sold my soul
You bought it back for me
And held me up
And gave me dignity
Somehow, you needed meYou gave me strength
To stand alone again
To face the world
Out on my own again
You put me high
Upon a pedestal
So high that I could almost see eternity
You needed me
You needed meAnd I can’t believe it’s you I can’t believe it’s true!
I needed you
And you were there
And I’ll never leave, why should I leave? I’d be a fool
‘Cause I finally found someone who really cares