Stay Or Leave
Dave Matthews and 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
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
"Stay or Leave" by Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds is a love song that debates whether or not the two individuals in the relationship should stay together. The song is an emotional journey that explores the relationship's roadblocks and emotional highs, showing how love can be complicated, but ultimately worth it. The lyrics describe an intense relationship where the two lovers have a deep connection, demonstrated by the sentimental imagery of holding whiskey, swimming together in a river at midnight, and laughing under the covers. However, the relationship has its challenges, and the couple eventually decides to part ways.
The song can be interpreted as a plea for the partner to stay, despite the pain and difficulties of the relationship. The line "Stay or leave, I want you not to go" signifies the singer's indecisiveness, expressing their desire to keep their partner by their side but knowing that they must go. The lyrics are relatable and full of emotion, depicting the roller-coaster journey of love and its complexity.
The song was written by Dave Matthews, and it is one of many he has written about his personal experiences. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, and it's no surprise that "Stay or Leave" is a fan favorite. The song moves the listener through the feelings of love, loss, and everything in between.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe different but remember
Things may have changed but I want you to hold on to the good memories
Winters warm there you and I
We spent a cozy winter together with warmth and love
Kissing whiskey by the fire
Drunk in love, with a glass of whiskey in our hands, sitting by the flames of the fire
With the snow outside
Enjoying the comfort of indoors with love as snow falls outside
And when the summer comes
After winter's coziness, the happy summer season arrives
In the river swims at midnight
Swimming in the river under the stars in the dark of night
Shiver cold touch the bottom
Deep into the cold water, feeling a shiver throughout our bodies
You and I with muddy toes
All we care about is each other while walking together, holding hands and not minding the mud on our toes
Stay or leave
I'm torn between you staying or leaving
I want you not to go, but you should
Although I want you to stay, I know that you have to go
It was good as good goes
Our love was great but as time went by, we grew apart
Wake up naked drinking coffee
Waking up together in bed in the morning, drinking coffee
Making plans to change the world
Dreaming of doing something great together, making a change in the world
While the world is changing us
The world around us is changing us as well, drifting us apart
You used to laugh under the covers
We used to be silly and joke around in bed under the covers
Maybe not so often now
As time went by, we stopped being silly and having fun together
But the way I used to laugh with you was loud and hard
I miss the way we used to laugh together, so hard that our stomachs ached
What to do, with the rest of the day's afternoon, hey
I'm at a loss for what to do with the rest of my day
Isn't it strange how we change everything we did
It's strange how time changes everything we do and everything we share
Did I do all that I should, that I could of done
I am questioning if I did everything I could have to keep our love strong
Remember we used to dance and everyone wanted to be you and me
We used to dance together - it felt like the whole world wanted to be with us
I want to be too
I want to feel that way again, to dance and feel the love we had before
What day is this, besides the day you left me, what day is this besides the day you went
It's hard to describe any day without you in it - every day feels the same, like you just left and took away all the joy and memories we shared together
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind