Stay With Me

Song meaning of Stay With Me by Sam Smith

The protagonist of the gospel-inspired ballad "Stay with Me" begs their one-night stand to stay with them. Because of the song's noticeable melodic resemblance to Petty's hit song "I Won't Back Down," Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne were eventually given co-writer credit.

Smith claimed in an interview with NME that the song was written in an Old Street studio. Smith said that "the song just flowed out of us so naturally," and that it was written in thirty to forty minutes. Phillips began by playing three chords on the piano, and Napier promptly offered a drum rhythm. Following the song's completion, Smith began to harmonise and overlay their vocals roughly twenty times while singing in various studio locations. The outcome was a demo that was eventually used in the song that was released, and it had the sound of a gospel choir all performed by Smith herself.

According to Smith, "the song is about the moment in the morning after a one night stand, where the person you are with leaves your house, and you are left by yourself, and it's just a second, where you are just like: 'I wish, I wish'. You don't even love them, you don't really fancy them that much, it's just nice to have someone in the bed next to you."

The song won the Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year, and in their acceptance speech for winning the Record of the Year, Smith said that "I want to thank the man who this record is about who I fell in love with last year. Thank you so much for breaking my heart because you got me four Grammys."

With its number one peak in the UK Singles Chart. It also topped the charts in Canada and New Zealand and debuted at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.

Stay With Me lyrics by Sam Smith

Guess it's true, I'm not good at a one-night stand

But I still need love 'cause I'm just a man

These nights never seem to go to plan

I don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand?

Oh, won't you stay with me?

'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love, it's clear to see

But, darling, stay with me

Why am I so emotional?

No, it's not a good look, gain some self-control

And deep down I know this never works

But you can lay with me so it doesn't hurt

Oh, won't you stay with me?

'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love, it's clear to see

But, darling, stay with me

Oh, won't you stay with me?

'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love, it's clear to see

But, darling, stay with me

Oh, won't you stay with me?

'Cause you're all I need

This ain't love, it's clear to see

But, darling, stay with me