Stay
Elliot Root Lyrics
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I'm looking up
Walking through my memories
Not fast enough
I wait for you to come
But you don't
I'm kneeling here beside
Artifacts of winter
Blue filtering
I wait for you to come
And you do
I think I might pull through
The sounds are calling me
Stay for a little while
Hold my hand
This room's spinning black
Around this bed
And my mind goes
Where it shouldn't go
Stay for a little while
Hold my hand
This room's spinning black
Around this bed
And my mind goes
Where it shouldn't go
Ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh
I don't wanna sleep
I don't wanna dream
I just wanna stay
Where we can see the morning light
With you by my side
I need you here right now
Chase away the demons
Chase away the fear
Try to find a way to keep me clear
I need you here tonight
Laying by my side
The sounds, the sounds are calling me
Stay for a little while
Hold my hand
This room's spinning black
Around this bed
And my mind goes
Where it shouldn't go
Stay for a little while
Hold my hand
This room's spinning black
Around this bed
And my mind goes
Where it shouldn't go
Someday I will show you how
It all unfolds in my head
Stay for a little while
Hold my hand
This room's spinning black
Around this bed
And my mind goes
Where it shouldn't go
The lyrics of Elliot Root's song "Stay" allude to the idea of deep yearning for someone to be present always by one's side, a desire for safety, and a sense of belonging. The song seems to be written from the perspective of someone going through a difficult time or a feeling of uncertainty about the future. In the first verse, the singer describes him or herself lying on the floor, looking up and reflecting on the past. This verse is indicative of the state of mind of someone who is lost and trying to remember the good times. It suggests a desire to go back to the past, which is not possible. The lines "Walking through my memories, not fast enough" convey the idea that the singer can’t move through their memories fast enough to change anything.
The second verse states that the singer is kneeling beside a shrine that he or she and a loved one made, composed of beautiful things from the winter. "The Shrine" could represent the memory of a loved one who may have passed or someone who is no longer present in the singer's life. The shrine is a safe place for the singer, a place of solace where he or she can hold on to cherished memories. This part of the song has a hopeful tone, where the singer thinks the loved one might come back. Finally, the chorus repeats the message of the singer's desire for the person they are singing about to stay with them. It is a cry for comfort and a need to escape from the pain of the present and the wounds of the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Laying against the floorboards
I am lying on the floor, looking up
I'm looking up
I am looking straight up at the ceiling
Walking through my memories
I am revisiting my past experiences in my mind
Not fast enough
However, my memories are not enough to make me happy in the present
I wait for you to come
I am waiting for someone's arrival
But you don't
However, they do not come
I'm kneeling here beside
I am now kneeling next to something
The shrine that we have built of beautiful things
It is a beautiful and meaningful place we've created together
Artifacts of winter
Objects from our past, representing the colder times
Blue filtering
Tinted blue, this scene is somber and cold
I wait for you to come
I am still waiting for someone's arrival
And you do
Finally, they arrive
I think I might pull through
Seeing them makes me feel better
The sounds are calling me
The music in this space is making me feel more relaxed
Stay for a little while
I want this person to stay for a short period of time
Hold my hand
I want them to comfort me physically
This room's spinning black
The atmosphere is heavy and disorienting
Around this bed
I am in bed, feeling helpless
And my mind goes
I start to think of things that I shouldn't
Where it shouldn't go
My thoughts are going to dark places
Ooh ooh ooh, ooh ooh ooh
Unspecified vocalization
I don't wanna sleep
I don't want to give in to the unrest
I don't wanna dream
I don't want to experience more turbulent thoughts
I just wanna stay
I simply want to be present in this moment
Where we can see the morning light
I want to wake up with a clear mind and start anew
With you by my side
I want this person to be with me in this experience
I need you here right now
I need their physical presence to help me feel better
Chase away the demons
I want them to help me overcome my negative thoughts
Chase away the fear
I want them to alleviate my anxiety
Try to find a way to keep me clear
I want them to help me find clarity
I need you here tonight
I need them to stay with me tonight
Laying by my side
I want them to be physically close to me
Someday I will show you how
I will someday explain this to you
It all unfolds in my head
All of these thoughts and feelings are happening inside of me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Scott Krueger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind