With this gorgeous piano ballad, Rihanna puts a vulnerable spin on the Brown situation, repeating another theme of the album – failing to resist true love. She inspires melancholy and raw emotion with this track, and never fails to convey her honesty with her lyrics and her delivery.
Chartwise, “Stay” was incredibly successful, moving over 10 million units all together, making it Rih’s third most successful single after “Love the Way You Lie” with Eminem and “We Found Love” with Calvin Harris.
Stay
Rihanna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A cold sweat, hot headed believer
I threw my hands in the air, and said, "Show me something"
He said, "If you dare, come a little closer"
'Round and around and around and around we go
Oh, now tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
It's not much of a life you're living
It's not just something you take, it's given
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh, now tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
And I want you to stay
Ooh, the reason I hold on
Ooh, 'cause I need this hole gone
Well, funny you're the broken one
But I'm the only one who needed saving
'Cause when you never see the light
It's hard to know which one of us is caving
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
Stay
I want you to stay
Ooh
In "Stay," Rihanna sings about the internal struggle she's experiencing within a relationship. The song starts off with a metaphor, "All along it was a fever / A cold sweat, hot-headed believer" which represents the all-consuming passion that had taken hold of her life. The next line is "I threw my hands in the air, said, 'Show me something,'" which reveals Rihanna's desire for something more from this relationship. The verse then ends with the line, "He said, 'If you dare, come a little closer,'" signaling that her lover is also daring her to take the relationship to the next level.
The chorus starts with the line, "Round and around and around we go," which mirrors both the cycle of the relationship, as well as the uncertainty and confusion that Rihanna is feeling. The lines, "Not really sure how to feel about it / Something in the way you move," show that Rihanna is conflicted about her feelings for her partner, but can't resist the pull they have on her. The chorus ends with the pleading line, "It takes me all the way / I want you to stay," emphasizing her desperate need for her partner to stay with her.
The second verse reveals more of Rihanna's inner conflict, as she acknowledges that her partner's presence in her life is taking a toll on her. The lines "It's not much of a life you're living / It's not just something you take, it's given," suggest that Rihanna feels like she's sacrificing her own happiness for her partner's. The chorus repeats, underscoring the intensity of her emotions.
The bridge of the song introduces a new perspective, as Rihanna sings, "Funny you're the broken one / But I'm the only one who needed saving / 'Cause when you never see the light / It's hard to know which one of us is caving." Here, Rihanna reveals that her partner is also struggling, but because of his own issues, he can't offer her the support she needs. This creates a cycle of conflict and confusion, where neither of them knows how to help the other.
Overall, "Stay" is a powerful ballad that explores the complexity of relationships, highlighting the intensity of the emotions involved, as well as the ongoing struggle for balance and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
All along it was a fever
From the very beginning, I was passionate about you.
A cold sweat, hot headed believer
I was nervous and excited about our relationship.
I threw my hands in the air, said, "Show me something"
I was open to whatever you had to offer.
He said, "If you dare, come a little closer"
You challenged me to take a risk and get closer to you.
Round and around and around and around we go
Our relationship is repetitive and unpredictable.
Oh, now tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
I want to know if you understand our relationship as well as I do.
Not really sure how to feel about it
I'm unsure of my emotions towards you.
Something in the way you move
The way you behave is captivating and mesmerizing.
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
Being without you is unbearable for me.
It takes me all the way
My feelings for you are intense and all-consuming.
I want you to stay
I want our relationship to continue.
It's not much of a life you're living
Your life is not fulfilling without me in it.
It's not just something you take, it's given
Our relationship is a two-way street, not just one person taking from the other.
Ooh, the reason I hold on
The reason I continue to stay in this relationship.
Ooh, 'cause I need this hole gone
I need to feel complete and you fill that void.
Well, funny you're the broken one
You may have issues, but I'm the one who needs fixing.
But I'm the only one who needed saving
I'm the only one who needs the other to feel complete.
'Cause when you never see the light
When you're lost and can't see a way out.
It's hard to know which one of us is caving
It's difficult to tell which one of us is giving in first.
Stay
Reminding the other to stay in the relationship.
I want you to stay
Emphasizing my desire for the other to stay in the relationship.
Ooh
Expressing a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: John Stephen Sudduth, Justin Parker, Mikky Ekko
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@anggitarp6971
LYRICS
All along it was a fever
A cold sweat, hot headed believer
I threw my hands in the air, and said, "Show me something"
He said, "If you dare, come a little closer"
'Round and around and around and around we go
Oh, now tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
It's not much of a life you're living
It's not just something you take, it's given
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh, now tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
And I want you to stay
Ooh, the reason I hold on
Ooh, 'cause I need this hole gone
Well, funny you're the broken one
But I'm the only one who needed saving
'Cause when you never see the light
It's hard to know which one of us is caving
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
Stay
I want you to stay
Ooh
@leonelbastos7747
All along it was a fever
A cold sweat, hot headed believer
I threw my hands in the air, said, "Show me something"
He said, "If you dare, come a little closer"
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh, now tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
It's not much of a life you're living
It's not just something you take, it's given
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh, now tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
And I want you to stay
Ooh, the reason I hold on
Ooh, 'cause I need this hole gone
Well, funny you're the broken one
But I'm the only one who needed saving
'Cause when you never see the light
It's hard to know which one of us is caving
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
Stay
I want you to stay
Ooh
@ampmeejn4012
(Lyrics)
All along it was a fever
A cold sweat, hot headed believer
I threw my hands in the air, said, "Show me something"
He said, "If you dare, come a little closer"
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh, now tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
It's not much of a life you're living
It's not just something you take, it's given
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh, now tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
And I want you to stay
Ooh, the reason I hold on
Ooh, 'cause I need this hole gone
Well, funny you're the broken one
But I'm the only one who needed saving
'Cause when you never see the light
It's hard to know which one of us is caving
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
Stay
I want you to stay
Ooh
@ari_sb
Lyrics
All along it was a fever
A cold sweat hot-headed believer
I threw my hands in the air, said, "Show me something"
He said, "If you dare, come a little closer"
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh now, tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
It's not much of a life you're living
It's not just something you take it's given
Round and around and around and around we go
Oh now, tell me now, tell me now, tell me now you know
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay
Ooh, ooh, ooh, the reason I hold on
Ooh, ooh, ooh, 'cause I need this hole gone
Funny you're the broken one but I'm the only one who needed saving
'Cause when you never see the light it's hard to know which one of us is caving
Not really sure how to feel about it
Something in the way you move
Makes me feel like I can't live without you
It takes me all the way
I want you to stay, stay
I want you to stay, hooh
@zuluhokage4891
It's weird how most of us living on Earth will never meet or even acknowledge each other's existence. For example, if you're reading my comment; this is probably the first and last time you'll ever see me.
@neeks6901
i love you
@hamzabassal
@@neeks6901 you are loved
@damaritaylor1451
😳
@YearsYearsBrazil1
sore truths
@pex_the_unalivedrunk6785
Simo Khena...we want you to stay. ❤❤❤
@ardita9414
This song sounds like heaven but hurts like hell
alone listening this song in 2020?
edit its august 2021
@Federal_Mad_Mix
We here
@eunicejones2320
Omg yesss
@jadeolliso6103
Yo gang here