‘Just in Case’ by Morgan Wallen - Lyrics & Meaning

Shortly before confirming the official release date for his eagerly anticipated fourth studio album, I'm the Problem, Morgan Wallen offered us a teaser of a track titled ‘Just in Case’. It finds the Sneedville native addressing a long-gone ex, as he confesses that he's never been able to move on fully, despite being with numerous women since.

When sharing the release date for I'm the Problem, the ‘Love Somebody’ chart-topper revealed he'd be gifting fans ‘Just in Case’ and ‘I'm a Little Crazy’ to preview the project.

Regardless of whether the muse is a real ex or a fictitious persona, ‘Just in Case’ is an infectious, undulating earworm that once again highlights Morgan Wallen's refreshing willingness to get open and vulnerable with fans on his fourth studio album.

‘Just in Case’ meanders along a rhythmic guitar strum, with the playful whistle of an airy synth entering the fray intermittently. The deliberate drum pattern injects an extra jolt of energy into the hook, with Morgan Wallen's charismatic delivery holding centre-stage.

The ‘Thought You Should Know’ singer-songwriter laces a sense of wistfulness and angst into his commanding delivery, but nonetheless still carries a distinctly off-hand, blasé ambience, making the listener feel as though he's almost shrugging his shoulders as makes peace with the fact that he's not able to move on from his ex.

“I ain't sayin' that I always sleep alone
I ain't sayin' that I ain't met no one else
Done a little bit of midnight movin' on
And I ain't sayin' when I do that it don't help
Leave with someone, I don't know her name
Pull her real close, but I leave some space
Yeah, I can forget you, girl, for good
Even though I should”

Throughout ‘Just in Case’, Morgan Wallen sings to a pivotal ex, as he admits he's never been able to move on from their relationship. The protagonist outlines that he's been spending time with various other women since they called it quits, but he stresses that he can't ever allow himself to fall for them in the same way.

“I never let my heart go all the way
Every time I try, I just hit the brakes
And there's always a couple tryna take your place
But I never fall in love, baby, just in case
You wake up, wantin' me out of the blue
You lay down, needin' what I used to do
Every now and then, I go get a taste
But I never fall in love, baby, just in case
Just in case”

During the addictive hook, Morgan Wallen highlights how he has never fallen in love since this formative relationship, with the narrator movingly sharing that the reason for this is because he is holding onto the faintest glimmer of hope that his ex might one day want him back. The satisfying cascading flow of “You wake up, wantin’ me out of the blue / You lay down, needin’ what I used to do” is the cornerstone of ‘Just in Case’, as Wallen reveals that he yearns to fall back into his ex's arms.

“I always take it to the edge, then I back it up
They don't know I got a reason for actin' up
I ain't felt a damn thing, baby, after us
Yeah, I'm just hopin' you'll come back to us
That's wishful thinkin', baby, honestly
But I know you ain't forgotten me”

Here, Morgan Wallen conveys how he's almost fallen for women since breaking up with his ex, with Wallen describing how he takes it “to the edge”, before panicking and leaving.

He goes so far as suggesting he feels numb after the heartbreak of splitting from his old flame, with Wallen fantasising about his ex returning in the future. He implies that, while it might be “wishful thinkin” to entertain the thought of her coming back to him, at the same time, he knows his ex hasn't forgotten their romance.

“Leave with someone, I don't know her name
Pull her real close, but I leave some space
Yeah, I can have three words on my tongue
But I won't ever say 'em”

Morgan Wallen consolidates the sense of apathy and distance between his post-break-up lovers, with Wallen not even paying attention to the name of the woman he's leaving the bar with. He recalls occasions when he's had “I love you” on the tip of his tongue, but has never managed to say it, “just in case” he still has a shot with his ex.

When announcing the I'm the Problem release date, Morgan Wallen offered fans an insight into the theme of self-reflection that drives the project as a whole, “I have been a problem, for sure, and I've got no problem admitting that. But there are other sides to me as well. I've spent the last 11 months really trying to figure out, 'Do I still want to be the problem? Is it time to move past that phase in my life? I think it probably is, and this might be the last time I get a chance to honestly say it”.

“I ain't sayin' that I always sleep alone
I ain't sayin' that I ain't met no one else
Done a little bit of midnight movin' on
And I ain't sayin' when I do that it don't help
Leave with someone, I don't know her name
Pull her real close, but I leave some space
Yeah, I can forget you, girl, for good
Even though I should

-

I never let my heart go all the way
Every time I try, I just hit the brakes
And there's always a couple tryna take your place
But I never fall in love, baby, just in case
You wake up, wantin' me out of the blue
You lay down, needin' what I used to do
Every now and then, I go get a taste
But I never fall in love, baby, just in case
Just in case

-

I always take it to the edge, then I back it up
They don't know I got a reason for actin' up
I ain't felt a damn thing, baby, after us
Yeah, I'm just hopin' you'll come back to us
That's wishful thinkin', baby, honestly
But I know you ain't forgotten me

-

So I never let my heart go all the way
Every time I try, I just hit the brakes
And there's always a couple tryna take your place
But I never fall in love, baby, just in case
You wake up, wantin' me out of the blue
You lay down, needin' what I used to do
Every now and then, I go get a taste
But I never fall in love, baby, just in case
Just in case

-

Leave with someone, I don't know her name
Pull her real close, but I leave some space
Yeah, I can have three words on my tongue
But I won't ever say 'em

-

'Cause I never let my heart go all the way
Every time I try, I just hit the brakes
And there's always a couple tryna take your place
But I never fall in love, baby, just in case
You wake up, wantin' me out of the blue
You lay down, needin' what I used to do
Every now and then, I go get a taste
But I never fall in love, baby, just in case
Just in case”

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