Smith's debut studio album, In the Lonely Hour, was released in May 2014 on Capitol Records UK. The album's lead single, "Lay Me Down", was released prior to "La La La". The album's second single, "Money on My Mind", became Smith's second number one single in the UK. The third single, "Stay with Me", was an international success, reaching number one in the UK and number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, while their singles "I'm Not the Only One" and "Like I Can" reached the top ten in the UK. The album won four awards, at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Pop Vocal Album, Best New Artist, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
For Smith's and Jimmy Napes's song "Writing's on the Wall", the theme for the James Bond film Spectre (2015), Smith won the Golden Globe Award and the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Smith's second studio album, The Thrill of It All, was released in November 2017 and debuted atop the UK and US album charts. The lead single, "Too Good at Goodbyes", reached number one in the UK and Australia and number four in the US. They released the single "Promises" with Calvin Harris, which peaked at number one in the UK. Smith released "Dancing with a Stranger" with Normani in 2019, which reached the top ten in the UK and the US and was nominated for Song of the Year at the 2020 Brit Awards, and followed it by releasing a string of commercially successful singles "How Do You Sleep?", "To Die For" and "I'm Ready" with Demi Lovato; all of which feature on Smith's third album, Love Goes.
Smith has won four Grammy Awards, three Brit Awards, three Billboard Music Awards, and an American Music Award, as well as a Golden Globe and an Academy Award through their career. Smith has been publicly gay since 2014, genderqueer since 2017, and has used they/them pronouns since 2019.
Is This Really Happening
Sam Smith Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tangled like the roots on the ground
The windows opened up
The wind is blowing and we're both not making a sound
It's like I'm melting on into you
Give me a reason why we should ever move
You'll never leave me
That this is really happening
Could this be better?
So you see me everyday
You tend to treat me like
My name is up in lights
It really blows me away
Lock me up in a dark room
And I still can't take my eyes off you
You'll never leave me
This is really happening
That this is really happening
All those kisses up against your car
For all those wishes on planes
We thought were stars
Memories like photographs
Oh Baby, Here we are
You'll never leave me
Oh, This is really happening
And this is really happening
Oh, that this is really happening
That this is really happening
The first verse of Sam Smith's "Is This Really Happening" describes a moment where two people are sharing an intimate moment beneath the "chandelier of stars and atmosphere" and are "tangled like roots on the ground." Despite the wind blowing through the open windows, they are "both not making a sound," as if they are so lost in the moment that they cannot speak. The singer feels as if they are "melting on into" their partner, asking for a reason why they should ever move. This moment is so perfect that they fear it will end.
The second verse talks about how the singer sees their partner every day, and even though their partner seems to treat them like they are famous, it still blows them away. The singer says that even if they were locked in a dark room, they would still not be able to stop looking at their partner.
The chorus repeats the phrase "You'll never leave me, this is really happening," emphasizing the fear of the moment ending and conveying the desire to hold onto this perfect feeling forever.
Overall, the song portrays the feeling of being lost in the moment with someone you love and fearing that it will end. The singer is so enamored with their partner that they cannot imagine them leaving and just wants to stay in this perfect moment forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Beneath the chandelier of stars and atmosphere
Amidst a beautiful natural setting, we are together.
Tangled like the roots on the ground
Our emotions are intertwined and complex, just like the roots beneath us.
The windows opened up
We are open to each other and the world around us.
The wind is blowing and we're both not making a sound
Despite the external forces around us, we are at peace and content in each other's company.
It's like I'm melting on into you
I am so in love with you that I feel like I am becoming a part of you.
Give me a reason why we should ever move
I am so happy and fulfilled with you that I see no reason to change or leave.
You'll never leave me
I have complete trust in you and believe that we will always be together.
This is really happening
Our love is real and tangible, not just a fleeting moment or dream.
Could this be better?
I am so happy with you that I can't imagine anything being better than this.
So you see me everyday
We are a regular part of each other's lives and spend a lot of time together.
You tend to treat me like
You treat me with the respect and love that I deserve.
My name is up in lights
You are proud to be with me and want to show me off to the world.
It really blows me away
Your love and affection for me is incredibly overwhelming and amazing.
Lock me up in a dark room
Even if I were in a bad situation, I would still be unable to take my eyes off you.
All those kisses up against your car
We have shared many intimate moments together and have created lasting memories.
For all those wishes on planes
We have made many wishes and dreams for our future together.
We thought were stars
Like the stars themselves, our hopes and aspirations have seemed unattainable at times, but we hold onto them nonetheless.
Memories like photographs
Our happy memories together are so vivid and clear that they feel almost like photographs in our minds.
Oh Baby, Here we are
Despite everything, we are still here together and holding onto our love.
That this is really happening
We are both in awe that our love has brought us together and that we are able to experience it together.
Contributed by Abigail B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Paula Morgan
on Stay with Me
this man has the most amazing voice
Laura Salomon
on Stay with Me
Love this song...
Chanty Medina-Cuesta
on Stay with Me
love this man
Jeannie Smith
on Stay with Me
I like this.