Born Brid… Read Full Bio ↴Bridget St John (b. 1946) is an English singer-songwriter.
Born Bridget Hobbs on the 4th October 1946 in South London, she learnt piano and viola as a child, and guitar while a student at Sheffield University, from which she graduated in 1968. Her "To B. without a Hitch"/"Autumn Lullaby" (1969) was one of the first two singles released by Dandelion Records, John Peel's label. Ask Me No Questions - including the earlier single, and sparingly produced by Peel - was the label's first LP later the same year.
Her second album, the more highly regarded Songs for the Gentle Man, was produced by Ron Geesin, and two more albums followed: Thank You For... (1972), again on Dandelion, and Jumblequeen (1974), on Chrysalis. Commercial success did not follow critical acclaim, and St John lay low for some time, reemerging in the 1990s, and releasing Take the 5ifth in 1996.
Aside from work under her own name, St John has also recorded with Mike Oldfield, Kevin Ayers, and Robin Frederick. There is another recording artist named Bridget St John in Seattle, Washington, USA, who has since changed her stage name to Sweet Punch to avoid confusion.
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Back To Stay
Bridget St. John Lyrics
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You know I'm back today
I'm back to stay in your arms
And though I've been around and lived
The life I said I loved you know without you
Honey, all I do is worth nothing
And girlie, don't cry for me
People in my life honey, on my mind
You will always find there's only you
And though you say you'll journey
To some foreign land i'll remember you
Yes, and I'll be true to your memory
And girlie, don't cry for me
And when, at last
You do come wandering home to me
I might look at you
But it will be through the weeks between
And when I hold you
It might not be you I have
In the passing days
We might both have changed to something new
And girlie, don't cry for me
And though I've been away
So many lonely nights
You know I'm back today
I'm back to stay in your arms
And though I've been around and lived
The life I said I loved you know without you
Honey, all I do is worth nothing
And girlie, don't cry for me
In Bridget St. John's song "Back To Stay," the lyrics express a sense of longing and devotion to a romantic partner. The singer acknowledges that they have spent many lonely nights away from their loved one, but now they are back and intend to stay in their arms. The singer recognizes the value and significance of their partner's presence in their life, even stating that without them, everything they do is worth nothing. They reassure their partner, affectionately calling them "girlie," not to cry for them, perhaps implying that they don't want their partner to worry or be sad during their absence.
The second verse further emphasizes the singer's commitment to their partner. They acknowledge that there may be other people in their life, but mentally their thoughts always revolve around their partner. They promise to remain faithful and remember their partner even if they journey to a foreign land. The lyrics suggest that distance and time apart may change both the singer and their partner, but the singer remains hopeful that when they reunite, they will still have a deep connection. However, they acknowledge the possibility that things may have changed and they may be holding someone new when they finally embrace, implying a certain degree of uncertainty and trepidation.
Line by Line Meaning
Although I've been away so many lonely nights
Despite spending countless nights apart from you
You know I'm back today
You should be aware that I have returned
I'm back to stay in your arms
I have come back to remain by your side
And though I've been around and lived
Even though I have traveled and experienced different things
The life I said I loved you know without you
I realize that my life is empty and meaningless without you
Honey, all I do is worth nothing
Nothing I accomplish has value or meaning
And girlie, don't cry for me
Please don't shed tears because of me
Although there might be other
Even if there are other people
People in my life honey, on my mind
Individuals who occupy my thoughts and life
You will always find there's only you
You will always be the one and only for me
And though you say you'll journey
Despite your intention to embark on a trip
To some foreign land i'll remember you
I will keep you in my thoughts even if you are far away
Yes, and I'll be true to your memory
I will remain faithful and loyal to the memory of our love
And girlie, don't cry for me
Please refrain from shedding tears because of me
And when, at last
And when finally
You do come wandering home to me
When you return to me casually
I might look at you
I might gaze at you
But it will be through the weeks between
However, my perspective will be influenced by the time we spent apart
And when I hold you
When I embrace you
It might not be you I have
It's possible that you won't be the same person I remember
In the passing days
Over the course of time
We might both have changed to something new
We may have both transformed into something different
And girlie, don't cry for me
Please don't shed tears because of me
And though I've been away
Even though I have been absent
So many lonely nights
During countless nights of solitude
You know I'm back today
You are aware that I have returned
I'm back to stay in your arms
I have come back to permanently be in your embrace
And though I've been around and lived
Despite my experiences and adventures
The life I said I loved you know without you
I now realize that my life lacks meaning without you
Honey, all I do is worth nothing
Everything I do holds no value or significance
And girlie, don't cry for me
Please don't shed tears because of me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN MARTYN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Amy Richardson
This is a beautiful cover of a song written by John Martyn, which appears on his 1967 album 'London Conversation'.
Brian E. Reinecke
A lovely song. She sings so deeply soulful.
edaltweow
this is just the best <3 makes me cry every time
Tony Demarest
never a song that could use "nothing" as beautifully as this-
missmysticfalls815
Yes, I was trying to think who this song reminded me of and it's totally Nico.
just a song before i glo
her voice reminds me of ... how unique she is
Roger Ferns
a sublime lullaby from Bridget....
Ric Songs
faultless technique - brilliant :)
carlos SP
So sweet!
operafan98
Brings back memories. Saw her at the Three Tuns pub in Beckenham around '69.