Stay With Me
Meryl Streep Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

What did I clearly say
Children should listen

No, no, please
What were you not to do
Children must see
No
And learn

Why could you not obey
Children should listen
What have I been to you
What would you have me be
Handsome like a Prince

Ah, but I am old
I am ugly
I embarrass you
No

You are ashamed of me
No

You are ashamed
You don't understand

I am no longer a child, I wish to see the world

Don't you know what's out there in the world
Someone has to shield you from the world
Stay with me

Princes wait there in the world, it's true
Princes, yes, but wolves and humans, too
Stay at home
I am home

Who out there could love you more than I
What out there that I cannot supply
Stay with me

Stay with me
The world is dark and wild




Stay a child while you can be a child
With me

Overall Meaning

The song "Stay with Me" by Meryl Streep is a moving and emotional ballad that shares the struggles of a mother's relationship with her child. The lyrics of the song describe a conversation between a mother and child, with the mother pleading with the child to stay with her and not venture into the dangerous world outside.


The opening lyrics, "What did I clearly say, children should listen. No, no please, what were you not to do, children must see, no and learn," depict the mother's frustration with her child's lack of listening and understanding. She knows that children need guidance, and she implores her child to heed her warnings and take note of what they must do to survive.


The mother then goes on to try and understand why her child is so adamant about leaving, saying "Why could you not obey, children should listen. What have I been to you, what would you have me be, handsome like a prince? Ah, but I am old, I am ugly, I embarrass you." Here, the mother recognizes that she's not perfect, but she wants her child to see her for who she is and love her all the same. Even if she's not as glamorous as a prince in a fairy tale, she wants her child to stay by her side.


The song is a touching tale of the bond between a mother and child, and it is something that many people can relate to. It's a reminder that even if we feel imperfect, we are still loved, and the love of a parent for a child is unconditional.


Line by Line Meaning

What did I clearly say
I communicated something clearly


Children should listen
Children must pay attention and take heed of what they are told


No, no, please
A plea to stop doing something


What were you not to do
An inquiry into what rules were broken


Children must see
Children must witness things to understand them fully


No
A negative response


And learn
Continuing instruction to gain knowledge


Why could you not obey
Stated frustration with disobedience


What have I been to you
An inquiry about the relationship between speaker and listener


What would you have me be
A question about desired qualities


Handsome like a Prince
Comparable to traditional fairytale princes


Ah, but I am old
Stated fact about age


I am ugly
Stated reflection on physical appearance


I embarrass you
Recognition of causing shame in listener


No
A denial of a previous statement


You are ashamed of me
A statement of the listener's feeling


No
Another denial


You are ashamed
Affirmation of the listener's situation


You don't understand
A statement of misunderstanding


I am no longer a child, I wish to see the world
Acknowledgment of personal growth and desire for exploration


Don't you know what's out there in the world
A rhetorical question about the dangers of the world


Someone has to shield you from the world
A statement that there are dangers outside and someone needs to protect the listener


Stay with me
Plea for listener to remain close


Princes wait there in the world, it's true
Stated fact about traditional fairytale endings


Princes, yes, but wolves and humans, too
Acknowledgment that not everything in the world is good


Stay at home
Advice to remain in a safe space


I am home
Statement of location and feeling of being safe


Who out there could love you more than I
Statement of care and affection


What out there that I cannot supply
A question about what is missing from their relationship


Stay with me
Repeat plea for the listener to remain close


Stay with me
Repeat plea for the listener to remain close


The world is dark and wild
Acknowledgment of the dangers of the world


Stay a child while you can be a child
Advice to remain innocent while it is still possible


With me
Clarification that the artist is the safe place for the listener




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Stephen Sondheim

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Mr.NoUsername

Watching this scene in the movie theatre made me want to cry, especially since my mom was sitting near my seat. Flashbacks of all the things I had done in the past that made her disappointed and sad flashed through my mind like lightning and my heart was being crushed emotionally. In that one scene, it made me reflect on everything I done in the past that had disappointed my mom and the guilt built up inside that leaked out in the form of tears, I almost wanted to hug my mom and just cry in her arms right then and there as a way of telling her "I'm sorry"

Stay at home
Mom is home
Who could love you more than mother?
Stay with her
Stay a child while you can be a child
With her

No matter how grown you are, you are still momma's little boy/girl. Stay her child and show your appreciation while you still can with her



Sincerely Amayah

lyrics cuz i’m jammin:

What did I clearly say?
Children should listen
No, no, please!
What were you not to do?
Childrem must see
No!
And learn
Why could you not obey?
Children should listen
What have I been to you?
What would you have me be?
Handsome like a prince?
Ah, but I am old
I am ugly
I embarass you
No!
You are ashamed of me
No!
You are ashamed
You don't understand
It was lonely atop that tower
I was not company enough?
I am no longer a child. I wish to see the world
Don't you know what's out there in the world?
Someone has to shield you from the world
Stay with me
Princes wait there in the world, it's true
Princes, yes, but wolves and humans, too
Stay at home
I am home
Who out there could love you more than I?
What out there that I cannot supply?
Stay with me
Stay with me
The world is dark and wild
Stay a child while you can be a child
With me



林容安

LYRICS

Witch:
What did I clearly say?
Children must listen.

Rapunzel:
No, please!

Witch:
What were you not to do?
Children must see-

Rapunzel:
No!

Witch:
And learn.

Why could you not obey?
Children should listen.
What have I been to you?
What would you have me be?
Handsome like a Prince?

Ah, but I am old.
I am ugly.
I embarrass you.

Rapunzel:
No!

Witch:
You are ashamed of me.

Rapunzel:
No!

Witch:
You are ashamed.
You don't understand.

Rapunzel:
I'm no longer a child. I wish to see the world.

Witch:
Don't you know what's out there in the world?
Someone has to shield you from the world.
Stay with me

Princes wait there in the world, it's true.
Princes, yes, but wolves and humans, too.
Stay at home.
I am home.

Who out there could love you more than I ?
What out there that I cannot supply?
Stay with me.

Stay with me,
The world is dark and wild.
Stay a child while you can be a child.
With me.

I gave you protection.
And yet you disobey me.

Rapunzel:
No! You...

Witch:
Your prince will never lay eye on you again.
He will never lay eyeon at anything again.

Rapunzel:
What did you do to him!

Witch:
It doesn't matter.
Because where you're going no one can ever see you again!

Rapunzel:
No!No......no!



All comments from YouTube:

doddleoddle

Oh just LISTEN to that raw emotion. Absolutely brilliant.

Paint

:] oh hi!

Super StarQ

I totally agree

Alice

Totally agree with you Dodie! Can't wait! :)

Rowan Colleary

Alice Crook I have scene the film and Meryl's acting is extraordinary and this scene is great!

Myth1cPhantom

***** Jon i didn't know you were a Sondheim fan.

21 More Replies...

Priscilla Paizakis

I love that she puts wolves and humans on the same level of evil. It is extremely accurate.

Nicole Song

Actually, wolves are probably less evil than humans (as a collective).

CreativeUsernameEh

Wolves aren't capable of as much evil (or good!) as humans. They're just wolves.

hellfirehoeclub

wolves arent evil tho :( they get such a bad rap

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