This is a song about yearning for a meaningful relationship when all you got was a one-night stand.
The Words Came Naturally
Sam told American Songwriter that it didn’t take a drawn-out process to write this song. It all took place in one burst of creative songwriting inspiration in a London studio setting. This is the way that Smith prefers to write, and it’s the way he’s concocted so many other lyrical masterpieces.
During the studio songwriting session, Smith collaborated with William Phillips (AKA “Tourist”) and James Napier. The two were on piano and drums respectively while Sam Smith worked out his tender, heartfelt words.
The lyrics of this song were very much the result of these artists vibing together. Its titular refrain, “Stay with me,” came from Jimmy Napes in that session. His idea inspired Sam Smith to delve into his feelings about one-night stands.
“The whole song came out then. It happened so simply that it felt like it wasn’t even us writing it. It felt like it completely came through, like something greater was happening.”
When Sam accepted his award for Best Song of the Year for 2014 as well as the Songwriter’s Award and Best Record, he said, “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.”
“The song just flowed out of us so naturally.” Once the piano and drums had been worked out by Tourist and Napes, it took little more than a half hour for the lyrics and the rest of the hit song to come together.
In a YouTube video, Sam can be heard saying, “My song “Stay With Me” that people play at weddings, but it’s about a one-night stand. It’s not about that. But I love that they can play at weddings.” While the irony of the song choice isn’t lost on him, he’s still glad that it has a place there.
Lyrical Breakdown
“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?”
In this first verse, Sam confesses that he knows a one-night stand isn’t what he needs and is inadvisable. Nevertheless, his desire to fulfill his physical needs has influenced his judgment.
“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”
The narrator knows that it’s not true love and calls that fact out clearly, but that does nothing to stifle his plea to keep the one-night stand from leaving.
“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”
Sam expresses a desire to get a grip on his own feelings. It’s a highly relatable struggle, particularly when you’ve been cast in the throes of an unrequited love. Even when you don’t truly love the person you stayed with the night before and can’t imagine yourself being with them in the long term, it can still be just as painful to feel the loss of them lying next to you.
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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?
[Chorus]
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
[Verse 2]
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
[Chorus]
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
[Interlude]
Oooh, oooh
Oooh, oooh
[Chorus]
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
[Chorus]
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
Listeners that enjoy this song about Love may also enjoy the song Unholy by Sam Smith
