Stay Or Leave
Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Winters warm there you and I
Kissing whiskey by the fire
With the snow outside
And when the summer comes
In the river
Swims at midnight
Shiver cold
Touch the bottom
You and I
With muddy toes
Stay or leave
I want you not to go
But you should
It was good as good goes
Stay or leave
I want you not to go
But you did
Wake up naked drinking coffee
Making plans to change the world
While the world is changing us
It was good, good love
You used to laugh under the covers
Maybe not so often now
But the way I used to laugh with you
Was loud and hard
Stay or leave
I want you not to go
But you should
It was good as good goes
Stay or leave
I want you not to go
But you did
So what to do
With the rest of the day's afternoon hey
Isn't it strange how we change
Everything we did
Did I do all that I should
That I could of done
Remember we used to dance
And everyone wanted to be
You and me
I want to be too
What day is this
Besides the day you left me
What day is this
Besides the day you went
So what to do
With the rest of the day's afternoon hey
Isn't it strange how we change
Everything we did
Did I do all that I could
Remember we used to dance
And everyone wanted to be you and me
I want to be too
What day is this
Besides the day you went babe
What day is this
The lyrics of Dave Matthews Band's song Stay or Leave seem to revolve around a failed relationship, and the struggle to decide whether to hold onto the past or move on. The first verse reminisces about a romantic winter night with the partner, by the fire, drinking whiskey and watching the snow. In contrast, the second verse describes a morning after - waking up naked, making new plans, and seeing how the world has changed them both.
Despite the emotional turmoil, the singer expresses uncertainty about what to do next, torn between wishing the partner would stay and acknowledging that the relationship has run its course. The chorus "Stay or leave, I want you not to go, but you did" emphasizes this conflict, and the second half of the song repeats the question "What day is this?" reflecting on the pain of losing the partner.
The song balances between nostalgia and acceptance, expressing the wish for things to have remained the same while recognizing that change is an inherent part of life. The lyrics utilize sensory details such as the warmth of winter, sound of laughter, and touch of muddy toes to evoke emotional memories and create an intimate atmosphere of reflection.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe different but remember
Things may have changed, but let's not forget where we came from
Winters warm there you and I
We were together in the warmth of winter
Kissing whiskey by the fire
We enjoyed each other's company while drinking whiskey by the fire
With the snow outside
We were cozy inside while it snowed outside
And when the summer comes
Now that summer has arrived
In the river swims at midnight
We used to go for midnight swims in the river
Shiver cold touch the bottom
Putting our feet in the cold river made us shiver
You and I with muddy toes
We were always happy and carefree, even if we had dirty toes
Stay or leave I want you not to go but you should It was good as good goes Stay or leave I want you not to go but you did
I don't want you to leave, but it's for the best. What we had was great while it lasted, but it's time to move on.
Wake up naked drinking coffee Making plans to change the world
We used to wake up and talk about our dreams and aspirations over coffee
While the world is changing us
However, we have also been affected by the world around us
It was good, good love
Our love was good - there's no denying that
You used to laugh under the covers Maybe not so often now
We used to be so carefree and happy together, but we've grown apart
But the way I used to laugh with you was loud and hard
I miss the way we used to laugh together, it was infectious
So what to do With the rest of the day's afternoon hey Isn't it strange how we change Everything we did Did I do all that I should That I could of done
Now that you're gone, I'm left wondering what to do with my time. It's strange how things have changed. I'm left questioning whether I did everything I could have done.
Remember we used to dance And everyone wanted to be You and me I want to be too What day is this Besides the day you left me What day is this Besides the day you went
Do you remember the times we used to dance and how envious others were of us? I want to feel that way again too, but now I'm left questioning what day it is without you here.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nickrandles1102
Good lord, this one always guts me 😢
@rafabetico17che
Same
@KristinQD
Same, every once in a while I work up the courage to listen cause it’s a great song but yup 19 years later .. still gets me every darn time.
@JNieckarz
Me too.
@CementSeason
Are you experiencing dry eyes? Try Dave & Tim - the all natural, spiritual remedy that will have you bawling your eyes and your heart out within the first song.
Yeah, this one kills me too. Every darn time.
@LeahD-xv2jm
YES!!!
@TyRazor33
How can anyone not love Dave? See you guys in September ❤️
@CementSeason
Just got my cherry popped @ Labour-Dave last September. Now I know what I'm doing that weekend every single year for the foreseeable future!! See you in September <3♥
@cherokeegypsymama
One of my favorites EVER! 😢❤
@kristinehebert5621
No words. Best song ever.