Smith's debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour, was released in May 2014 on Capitol Records UK. The album's lead single, "Lay Me Down", was released prior to "La La La". The album's second single, "Money on My Mind", became Smith's second number one single in the UK. The third single, "Stay with Me", was an international success, reaching number one in the UK and number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, while their singles "I'm Not the Only One" and "Like I Can" reached the top ten in the UK. The album won four awards, at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
For Smith's and Jimmy Napes's song "Writing's on the Wall", the theme for the James Bond film Spectre (2015), Smith won the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Smith's second studio album, The Thrill of It All, was released in November 2017 and debuted atop the UK and US album charts. The lead single, "Too Good at Goodbyes", reached number one in the UK and Australia and number four in the US. They released the single "Promises" with Calvin Harris, which peaked at number one in the UK. Smith released "Dancing with a Stranger" with Normani in 2019, which reached the top ten in the UK and the US and was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2020 Brit Awards, and followed it by releasing a string of commercially successful singles "How Do You Sleep?", "To Die For" and "I'm Ready" with Demi Lovato; all of which feature on Smith's third album, Love Goes.
Smith has won four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, and an American Music Award, as well as a Golden Globe and an Academy Award through their career. Smith has been publicly gay since 2014, genderqueer since 2017, and has used they/them pronouns since 2019.
Stay with Me
Sam Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
Sam Smith’s song Stay with Me is a heartbreaking ballad that plays out the lyrics of someone who seeks intimacy but struggles to handle a one-night stand. The opening line, "Guess it's true, I'm not good at a one-night stand," sets the tone of the song as the singer expresses with sadness that he is not capable of having casual sex like other people. Despite his difficulties with casual sex, he still yearns for intimacy and love because he is just a human being. He acknowledges that sometimes plans do not go well and he does not want the other person to leave his side. Therefore he pleads with them to stay and hold his hand.
The chorus of the song "Oh, won't you stay with me, 'Cause you're all I need", emphasizes the singer's desperation for the person because they are everything to them. Sam Smith knows that the other person doesn't love him back, "This ain't love, it's clear to see," but he is willing to compromise his feelings just to have them near him. The final line “darling, stay with me” is an emotional plea a person can make when they are lost and alone without someone's presence.
Overall, the song is one of the many songs that reflect the pain of being human; the pain of wanting love but not being capable or not finding the right person.
Line by Line Meaning
Guess it's true, I'm not good at a one-night stand
I'm bad at one-night stands and have been left feeling empty before.
But I still need love 'cause I'm just a man
I am still human and desire love and affection like anyone else.
These nights never seem to go to plan
Things never seem to work out for me, especially romantically.
I don't want you to leave, will you hold my hand
I am afraid of being alone and just need someone to hold onto for comfort.
Oh, won't you stay with me
Please don't leave me alone.
'Cause you're all I need
You're the only thing that makes me feel okay.
This ain't love, it's clear to see
I know this isn't genuine love, but I just need someone to be with me.
But, darling, stay with me
Please stay with me, even if it's only temporary.
Why am I so emotional
I am feeling very emotional and vulnerable.
This is not a good look, gain some self-control
I'm aware that being emotional and needy isn't attractive, but I can't help how I feel.
And deep down I know this never works
I know that my behavior and emotions are not sustainable and will ultimately lead to disappointment.
But you can lay with me so it doesn't hurt
Please just be with me, even if it won't last forever, to ease my pain and loneliness.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James John Napier, William Edward Phillips, Samuel Frederick Smith, Jeff Lynne, Tom Petty
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Paula Morgan
this man has the most amazing voice
Laura Salomon
Love this song...
Chanty Medina-Cuesta
love this man
Jeannie Smith
I like this.
@scottdemarco4435
[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
@robertaabbe9245
Sometimes, someone comes into our life as soft as a whisper and they become a rock.
Then you feel a force of nature pull your rock from you.
This song feels like that.
@zakariaelboukhari3750
Sometimes letting things go is an act of far greater power than hanging on...
Letting go means to come to the realization that some people are a part of your history. But not a part of your destiny 💔
@tomkormushoff5241
🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵
@heatherlyons5568
Very powerful explanation..also very true
@heatherlyons5568
Beautiful ! I agree this is me
@smolgura
Growing up with this kind of songs reminded me of the good times when i was still a kid not knowing my outside story.