Pharrell was born the oldest of three sons to Pharaoh Williams and Carolyn Williams. His father was a handyman, and his mother was a teacher. In seventh grade, Williams met fellow band mate Hugo. The two began working together, mixing beats and playing in various live bands in which Williams played the drums. In 1992, while the two were attending different high schools in Virginia Beach, they sold their first song, "Rump Shaker", to Wreckx-n-Effect. They then began songwriting and production assignments with popular hip-hop artists such as Noreaga, SWV, Total and Ma$e.
In August 2002, The Neptunes were named Producers of the Year at both The Source Awards and the Billboard Music Awards.
In 2002, Williams wrote and produced rapper Nelly’s single called, "Hot in Herre," the single hit No.1 in the US and the UK. He repeated the success by doing the same with Britney Spears' dance-pop single, "I'm A Slave 4 U". But it wasn't until the summer of 2003 that Pharrell released his first solo single, "Frontin'" featuring Jay-Z. The album The Neptunes Present...Clones was then released, debuting at number one in August 2003.
"Frontin'" was a big summer hit (the No. 34 biggest single of 2003 according to Billboard Magazine), and kept Williams' momentum running up to the release of Hugo and Williams' second funk/rock-oriented N.E.R.D album, released in March 2004. Williams' rock credentials were further bolstered by his appearance at the 2004 Grammy Awards, performing The Beatles' "I Saw Her Standing There" on drums along with Sting, Dave Matthews, and Vince Gill. Pharrell went home with two Grammy Awards that night, one for Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical, and another for Best Pop Vocal Album for his work on Justin Timberlake's No.2 Billboard hit Justified.
In 2005, Williams was voted "Best Dressed Man in the World" by Esquire magazine. His look has inspired such acts like Mario and Eric West. On September 9th, 2005, Pharrell performed the opening single from his debut solo album "In My Mind". The song, titled "Can I Have It Like That", featuring Gwen Stefani, blends a smooth synth with a few drum rolls and heavy bass. "In My Mind" has 14 tracks, 7 hip-hop tracks and 7 R&B tracks featuring numerous musical guests such as Gwen Stefani, Daddy Yankee, Vanessa Marquez and Jay-Z. The album cover for In My Mind is designed by Japanese brand "A Bathing Ape". Williams has now started his own fashion label called the "Billionaire Boys Club" with the designer from A Bathing Ape.
Williams has been romantically linked to Sir Mick Jagger's socialite daughter Jade and to an American Woman named Vashtie.
His Debut album "In My Mind" was released July 25th, 2006.
In 2006 Pharrell Williams partnered with Turner Network Television for a special 2006 NBA All-Star Game promotion. In 2006, Pharrell solely produced The Clipse's second album Hell Hath No Fury. Most critics labeled the album to be Pharrell's best production in years, and put the Virginia rap duo back in the charts.
On May 16, 2007, for seven days only, the first of two expected collaborations with Madonna, entitled "Hey You", was made available for free download from the MSN website. MSN, in conjunction with Madonna, donated 25 cents for each of the first 1 million downloads to the Alliance for Climate Protection, in support of Live Earth. Later that year, Pharrell performed songs at the Concert for Diana on July 1, 2007. Then on July 7, 2007 he performed at the Brazilian leg of Live Earth at Rio de Janeiro.
A second album, entitled Out of My Mind, was recorded with his newly formed band "The Yessirs" featuring Questlove of The Roots. However, Pharrell's record label did not think that a companion album to the first would sell well. He also produced Beyoncé's rendition of "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend". He then wrote and produced "Why Should I Be Sad" on Britney Spears' fifth studio album, Blackout. He also produced two songs from The Hives album, The Black and White Album, titled "Well All Right!" and "T.H.E.H.I.V.E.S.".
In April 2008, Madonna released her eleventh album, Hard Candy, which featured vocals from Williams and production from The Neptunes on several tracks. In June, an article in NME revealed that Williams was very interested in producing The Strokes' fourth album. Later that year, Williams worked on a remix album for Maroon 5's Call & Response.
In July 2010, Williams composed the soundtrack to the movie Despicable Me, produced by Hans Zimmer and recorded with the Hollywood Studio Symphony. In October 2010, Williams and his group N.E.R.D supported Gorillaz on their Escape to Plastic Beach World Tour. The following month, N.E.R.D released their fourth studio album Nothing through Pharrell's label Star Trak.
In 2011, Williams collaborated with singer/composer Adam Lambert, co-writing two tracks for Lambert's album Trespassing, which was released in May 2012, including the title track and "Kickin' In".
Pharrell featured on Daft Punk's fourth studio album Random Access Memories on songs "Get Lucky" and "Lose Yourself to Dance". In addition, Williams contributed to Azealia Banks' debut studio album Broke with Expensive Taste, featuring on the song "ATM Jam."
In March 2013, Pharrell appeared alongside T.I. on Robin Thicke's hit single "Blurred Lines". The song has been a worldwide hit, has peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, and has also reached number one in 13 more countries including the United Kingdom and Germany, making it Pharrell's third Billboard Hot 100 number one single.On June 29, 2013, Pharrell became the 12th artist in the chart's history to simultaneously hold the number one and two positions with "Blurred Lines" and "Get Lucky", respectively.
By July 2013 there had only been 137 singles in UK chart history to have sold 1 million copies in the UK; that month Pharrell scored two million-sellers with "Get Lucky" and "Blurred Lines".
In November 2013, Pharrell released the first 24-hour music video to his Despicable Me 2 collaboration song, "Happy". Guest appearances included Magic Johnson, Steve Carrell, Jimmy Kimmel, Jamie Foxx, Steve Martin, Odd Future, Miranda Cosgrove, Janelle Monáe, and many others.It has received approximately 5.5 million views as of Christmas Day, 2013.
On March 3, 2014 Pharrell Williams released the album G I R L, through Black Lot Music and Columbia Records with promotion of Williams' label i am OTHER. The album contains appearances by Kelly Osbourne, Justin Timberlake, Timbaland, Miley Cyrus, Daft Punk, JoJo, Alicia Keys, Tori Kelly and Leah LaBelle. Reviews of the album from music critics have been positive.
Stay With Me
Pharrell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Turn me up some more
Pusha, Skateboard P
Give it to 'em
You're that girl
Who thinks the world
Is something beautiful
But you're lookin' far abroad
Wishing upon the wrong star
'Cause it don't know
That's not how it goes
So, I can't explain
Why things are made the same and others change
He made it that way
But the perplexities of the world
Leaves more oysters and pearls
And I don't know
It's just the way it goes
But I know you can
Stay with me
Lock the door
Take the key
I am yours
Feel the BAPE
It is yours
It is yours
It is yours (Hey)
Don't take the time
To relax your mind
So unusual, oh baby
Put your priorities on the shelf
But your emotions and your health just don't go
Your body says no, so
I can't conceive
That leaves would grow on trees
And blow with the breeze
And come back next Spring
But the perplexities of life
Brings more days that form new skies
So who's to know
I suppose that you could
So stay with me
Lock the door
Take the key
I am yours
Feel the BAPE
It is yours
It is yours
It is yours (Hey)
Up, up and away
I be the wind that blows yourself
The pixie dust of Tinkerbell
Up, up and away (P, I think we got one baby)
I be the wind beneath your wings (Pusha, let's go)
Vivid colors in your dreams oh
Baby, let's pour it up
Lift them Gallardo doors up
Paris for them Louis as soon as the tour's up
The million dollar frames is his and her the same
I took it on the chin when I heard about the lame
And no, I ain't here to try to rewrite your past
That don't measure up to the nights that we laughed
When considering love, you take the good with the bad
I've been disappointed by every bitch I ever had
Either she was dick crazy or cheddar mad
Shame what they did for them jeans and them leather bags
Reverse it, I want perfect
That was half the reason I bought half them purses
That chapter is over, it was worth it
My new angel surface
She ain't have to rehearse it
My baby's real
That's why I put the chill on her
So good make a nigga wanna kneel on her, not yet
So stay with me
Lock the door
Take the key
I am yours
Feel the BAPE
It is yours
It is yours
It is yours (Hey)
Pharrell Williams's song "Stay With Me" is a love song about embracing life's complexities and being present in the moment. Williams uses metaphors throughout the song to describe how life is unpredictable, and sometimes things don't happen the way we want them to. The first verse talks about a girl who sees the world as something beautiful, but she is wishing on the wrong star. Despite her optimistic view, life's perplexities and uncertainties leave more oysters than pearls, which can be disheartening. The second verse continues this theme of perplexities, such as leaves not growing on trees year-round or emotions conflicting with physical health. The chorus of the song encourages the listener to stay present and enjoy the moment, which is symbolized by locking the door and taking the key. Williams emphasizes this message by repeating, "It is yours," at the end of the chorus.
The third verse is a rap verse by Pusha T. He talks about enjoying the luxuries in life, such as Paris and Louis Vuitton. He also reflects on past relationships and how they were either obsessed with fame or money, which ultimately led to disappointment. He ends the verse by acknowledging that no one is perfect, and he is grateful for his new partner who doesn't need to fake who she is.
Overall, "Stay With Me" is a song about being present and embracing life's uncertainties. Life can have many perplexities, but that's what makes it beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
Fly shit
Starting off with the introduction of 'Pusha' and 'Skateboard P'
Turn me up some more
Turn up the volume so that the song stands out
You're that girl
Talking about a girl and how she views the world
Who thinks the world
Describing how the girl looks at the world
Is something beautiful
Talking about how the girl sees the world in a positive light
And that's all baby
Acknowledging this positive outlook
But you're lookin' far abroad
However, the girl wishes for something more
Wishing upon the wrong star
But her wishes are misplaced
'Cause it don't know
Explaining that the star doesn't know about her wishes
That's not how it goes
This is not how things work in the world
So, I can't explain
The singer admits that it's difficult to explain
Why things are made the same and others change
Explaining how some things stay the same while other things change
He made it that way
God made it so
But the perplexities of the world
Talking about how the world can be confusing
Leaves more oysters and pearls
Suggesting the world provides surprises and possibilities
And I don't know
Admitting that the singer doesn't have all the answers
It's just the way it goes
Stating that some things just happen without a clear reason
But I know you can
Encouraging the girl to persevere despite this confusion
Stay with me
Asking the girl to stay in his life
Lock the door
Securing privacy
Take the key
Symbolically giving his trust
I am yours
Offering his loyalty and devotion
Feel the BAPE
Referencing clothing brand for aesthetic expression
It is yours
Reinforcing the idea that the girl is free to choose her destiny
Don't take the time
Advocating to be prompt in addressing issues
To relax your mind
Emphasizing the importance of clarity
So unusual, oh baby
Acknowledging that this advice may be unordinary
Put your priorities on the shelf
Discussing the importance of prioritizing
But your emotions and your health just don't go
Explaining the difficulty in balancing different aspects of life
Your body says no, so
Indicating that one's physical well-being is important
I can't conceive
Admitting that some things are difficult to comprehend
That leaves would grow on trees
Using an absurd example to illustrate confusion
And blow with the breeze
Expressing the randomness of life's events
And come back next Spring
Using nature as an analogy for life's cycles
But the perplexities of life
Referencing how life can seem confusing and difficult
Brings more days that form new skies
Describing how the future can be full of new possibilities
So who's to know
Acknowledging that no one knows what lies ahead
I suppose that you could
Encouraging again to persevere and try to find a way through life's challenges
Up, up and away
Using poetic imagery to suggest lifting off from life's challenges
I be the wind that blows yourself
Appropriating the imagery of wind and expressing desire to help drive the girl forwards
The pixie dust of Tinkerbell
Referencing the legendary fairy as a metaphor for inspiration
Vivid colors in your dreams oh
Suggesting brightness and optimism for her future
Baby, let's pour it up
Shifting the tone towards intimacy and indulgence
Lift them Gallardo doors up
Describing a luxurious car model
Paris for them Louis as soon as the tour's up
Suggesting grand plans for a romantic Paris trip
The million dollar frames is his and her the same
Referencing expensive glasses or sunglasses styled the same way for him and her
I took it on the chin when I heard about the lame
Admitting that he's taken his knocks in life
And no, I ain't here to try to rewrite your past
Stating that he's not trying to change who the girl is
That don't measure up to the nights that we laughed
Calling back to good times spent together
When considering love, you take the good with the bad
Suggesting that love is a package deal that includes ups and downs
I've been disappointed by every bitch I ever had
Using crude language to express frustration with past relationships
Either she was dick crazy or cheddar mad
Describing a former partner with a negative stereotype
Shame what they did for them jeans and them leather bags
Reflecting on the shallowness of materialism
Reverse it, I want perfect
Reversing the previous negative mindset to a more positive one
That was half the reason I bought half them purses
Reflecting on past purchases that didn't ultimately satisfy him
That chapter is over, it was worth it
Acknowledging the past, but moving on to better things
My new angel surface
Describing his new romantic partner as an angel
She ain't have to rehearse it
Implying that she is naturally perfect
My baby's real
Stating that his new partner is genuine
That's why I put the chill on her
Trying to restrain himself from being overly emotional or invested too soon
So good make a nigga wanna kneel on her, not yet
Building up to a climax of passion, but then holding back
So stay with me
Reiterating that he wants the girl to stay with him
Lock the door
Repeating the idea of privacy and intimacy
Take the key
Reminding the girl that he trusts her
I am yours
Pledging his love and loyalty
Feel the BAPE
Repeating the fashion brand reference
It is yours
Reiterating that the girl has the power to choose her own fate
It is yours
Finalizing that the girl has the agency to make her own life choices
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PHARRELL WILLIAMS, TERRENCE THORNTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind