Born and raised in Michigan, Madonna moved to New York City in 1978 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands Breakfast Club and Emmy, she rose to solo stardom with her debut studio album, Madonna (1983). She followed it with a series of successful albums, including all-time bestsellers Like a Virgin (1984) and True Blue (1986) as well as Grammy Award winners Ray of Light (1998) and Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005). Madonna has amassed many number-one singles throughout her career, including "Like a Virgin", "La Isla Bonita", "Like a Prayer", "Vogue", "Take a Bow", "Frozen", "Music", "Hung Up", and "4 Minutes".
Madonna's popularity was enhanced by roles in films such as Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), A League of Their Own (1992), and Evita (1996). While Evita won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress, many of her other films received poor reviews. As a businesswoman, Madonna founded the company Maverick in 1992; it included Maverick Records, one of the most successful artist-run labels in history. Her other ventures include fashion brands, children's books, health clubs, and filmmaking. She contributes to various charities, having founded the Ray of Light Foundation in 1998 and Raising Malawi in 2006.
With sales of over 300 million records worldwide, Madonna is certified as the best-selling female recording artist of all time by Guinness World Records. She is the most successful solo artist in the history of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and holds the record for the most number-one singles by a female artist in Australia, Canada, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom. With a revenue of U.S. $1.5 billion from her concert tickets, she remains the highest-grossing solo touring artist of all time. Madonna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2008, her first year of eligibility. She was ranked as the greatest woman in music by VH1 in 2012, and as the greatest music video artist of all time by MTV in 2003 and Billboard in 2020. Rolling Stone also listed Madonna among the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
Studio albums
Madonna (1983)
Like a Virgin (1984)
True Blue (1986)
Like a Prayer (1989)
Erotica (1992)
Bedtime Stories (1994)
Ray of Light (1998)
Music (2000)
American Life (2003)
Confessions on a Dance Floor (2005)
Hard Candy (2008)
MDNA (2012)
Rebel Heart (2015)
Madame X (2019)
Stay
Madonna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're always on my mind
You, you make my load much lighter
True love is hard to find
Sometimes I feel I have to get away
I change my mind when I look in your eyes
And when those clouds come in and try to darken our days
I'll always want you to
Stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling (you know you got to stay)
Stay, stay, darling
You saw through my lies and deception
Yeah, I was losing my way
You, you gave my life some direction
And now I'm ready to say
I know there's bound to be some hard times ahead
I'd be a fool to believe
But if you go I'd rather think of dying instead
I never want you to leave
Stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling (you know you got to stay)
Stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, please stay, darling
When you walked out my door
I knew you'd be back for more
Let's leave the past behind
True love is so hard to find
Don't be afraid
It's gonna be all right
'Cause I know that I can make you love me
Love me, love, love, love, love me, love me
When you walked out my door
I knew you'd be back for more
Let's leave the past behind
True love is so hard to find
I'll always want you to stay
Stay (stay), stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, please stay, darling
And then we can scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop, yeah
Then we can scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop, yeah
Then we can scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop, yeah
Then we can scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop
I want you to stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling (you know you got to stay)
Stay, stay, please stay, darling
(Scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop)
You know you got to stay
(Scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop)
I think about you night and day
(Scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop)
You know you've got to stay
(Scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop)
I can make you love me
Love me, love me, love me
Love me, love me, love me
Love me, love me, love me
Lo-lo-lo love me, lo-lo-lo
The song "Stay" by Madonna is a love ballad that talks about the emotional dependency of a woman on her lover. The lyricist describes her lover as the source of her happiness, someone who makes her life brighter, her load lighter and is always on her mind. The song talks about the power of true love and the need to hold on to it even in difficult times. The woman acknowledges the possibility of hard times ahead but makes a promise never to leave her lover. She wants him to stay with her always.
The central theme of the song is the beauty of true love and the power it holds to make life worth living. Madonna beautifully portrays the emotions of a woman who is head over heels in love with her man and wants him to stay with her forever. The lyrics reveal the vulnerability of love and how it can change lives for the better. The song also highlights the importance of forgiveness and second chances in a relationship.
In conclusion, "Stay" is a powerful love song that expresses the beauty and pain of being in love. It captures the essence of true love and the power it has to transform lives. Madonna's soulful vocals and emotional lyrics make this song an all-time classic.
Line by Line Meaning
You, you make my life much brighter
The person addressed in this song is a source of joy and light in the singer's life.
You're always on my mind
The singer constantly thinks about their loved one.
You, you make my load much lighter
The person addressed in this song brings a feeling of relief and lightness to the singer's burdens.
True love is hard to find
The singer acknowledges the rarity of finding true love.
Sometimes I feel I have to get away
There are times when the singer feels the need to take a break from the pressures of life.
I change my mind when I look in your eyes
The singer's love for their partner is all-encompassing and quickly changes their desire to leave.
And when those clouds come in and try to darken our days
When life becomes difficult, the singer wants their partner to stay by their side.
I'll always want you to
Stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling (you know you got to stay)
Stay, stay, darling
The chorus of the song is a plea for the person addressed to stay in the singer's life.
You saw through my lies and deception
The person addressed is aware of and understands the singer's mistakes and shortcomings.
Yeah, I was losing my way
The singer was experiencing a difficult time in their life before their partner came along.
You, you gave my life some direction
The person addressed in this song provided clarity and direction for the singer's life.
And now I'm ready to say
The singer is now prepared to express their love for their partner.
I know there's bound to be some hard times ahead
The singer is aware that life is unpredictable and adversity is inevitable.
I'd be a fool to believe
The singer is realistic about the trials that are to come.
But if you go I'd rather think of dying instead
The idea of losing their loved one is unbearable for the singer.
I never want you to leave
The singer wants their partner to stay in their life forever.
When you walked out my door
I knew you'd be back for more
Let's leave the past behind
True love is so hard to find
The singer is confident in their partner's commitment and is ready to move forward with them.
Don't be afraid
It's gonna be all right
'Cause I know that I can make you love me
Love me, love, love, love, love me, love me
The singer reassures their partner that everything will be alright and they are confident in their ability to strengthen their love.
When you walked out my door
I knew you'd be back for more
Let's leave the past behind
True love is so hard to find
I'll always want you to stay
Stay (stay), stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, darling
Stay, stay, please stay, darling
The song's final verses continue the plea for their partner to stay and the importance of true love.
And then we can scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop, yeah
Then we can scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop, yeah
Then we can scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop, yeah
Then we can scoop, scoop, scoop, scoodooly be bop
These seemingly random phrases serve as a final ode to the joy and happiness that the singer and their partner can experience together.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Mute Song Limited, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Pate Bray, Madonna Ciccone
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
on Die Another Day
The only good thing about that sucky film is this song