The Dictators are an American punk rock band from New York City. In 1975, t… Read Full Bio ↴The Dictators are an American punk rock band from New York City. In 1975, they released their first album, 'Go Girl Crazy', making them the first NYC punk band to release an album on a major label. Their infectious version of "California Sun" got a huge response. They are considered, to this day, very influential in the genre's development. The Dictators are represented in the "Punk Wing" of the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. Steven Van Zandt called them,"The connective tissue between the eras of the MC5, The Stooges, the New York Dolls, and the punk explosion of the mid to late 70's."

Members

Richard Manitoba - lead vocals (1973-2008)
Ross "The Boss" Friedman - lead guitars/backing vocals (1973- 2008)
Scott "Top Ten" Kempner - rhythm guitars (1973-2008)
Andy Shernoff - bass (1973-1975, 1976-2008), keyboards/backing vocals (1973-2008)
Stu Boy King - drums (1974-1975; died 2018)
Ritchie Teeter - drums (1976-1980; died 2012)
Mark Mendoza - bass (1976-1977)
Mel Anderson - drums (1979)
Frank Funaro - drums (1995-1998)
J.P. Patterson - drums (1998-2008)

Discography

Go Girl Crazy (1975)
Manifest Destiny (1977)
Bloodbrothers (1978)
Fuck 'Em If They Can't Take a Joke (ROIR, 1981)
The Dictators Live, New York, New York (ROIR, 1998)
D.F.F.D. (2001)
Viva Dictators (2005)
Every Day Is Saturday (2007)

Stay With Me
The Dictators Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I shuffle down the street
my eyes are on my feet
I got no place to go

I try to reason why
but end up getting high
I'm drinking more it shows

I stare into the TV screen
but every face reminds me of a girl
I never used to be so mean
but I can't bear to face my shattered world,
you just ain't fair to this romeo
I fell apart when I watched you go
Baby, baby, baby

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
heart is calling won't you
Stay with me
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
heart is calling won't you
Stay with me

The stars they used to shine
but now my tears they blind
the fun we used to have

At night I toss and turn,
the memories they burn
I don't know how to laugh

I try and make the social scene
but I get drunk and turn into a fool
Then I start a fight because I'm only half the man I was with you
said we'd never part until we die
Why didn't you stop when you heard me cry
Baby, baby, baby

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
heart is calling won't you
Stay with me
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,

heart is calling won't you
Stay with me

Overall Meaning

The Dictators' "Stay With Me" speaks to the heartbreak and pain of a broken relationship. The singer is lost and wandering, unsure of what to do or where to go next. He is struggling with the loss of the love of his life and is drowning his sorrows with alcohol and drugs. The TV screen and memories only remind him of her, and he cannot escape the pain. He tries to go out with others and have fun, but it only reveals how much he has changed since she left, and his behavior is erratic and aggressive.

The lyrics of the chorus reveal the desperation and longing of the singer. He pleads for his love to return and stay with him, as his heart is calling out for her. The repetition of "my, my, my" adds to the sense of urgency and despair. The final lines of the song reveal the depth of the singer's pain and his confusion over why his love left him.

Overall, "Stay With Me" is a powerful portrayal of heartbreak and the lengths one will go to try and forget the pain. It is a song that many can relate to and empathize with, as we have all experienced the pain of losing someone we loved deeply.

Line by Line Meaning

I shuffle down the street
I walk aimlessly with no direction

my eyes are on my feet
I am too sad to look up

I got no place to go
I am lost and hopeless

I try to reason why
I attempt to understand the situation

but end up getting high
But instead, turn to drugs for escape

I'm drinking more it shows
My alcohol consumption is increasing

I stare into the TV screen
I watch TV to distract myself

but every face reminds me of a girl
But the faces on TV remind me of someone I miss

I never used to be so mean
I was never this unhappy before

but I can't bear to face my shattered world
But now I cannot bring myself to deal with my broken life

you just ain't fair to this romeo
The girl I miss is not being fair to me, a hopeless romantic

I fell apart when I watched you go
When she left, my world fell apart

The stars they used to shine
I used to feel like the world was bright

but now my tears they blind
Now, however, I am too sad to see straight

the fun we used to have
I think back to the good times we had

At night I toss and turn,
I cannot sleep at night

the memories they burn
The memories of us hurt me deeply

I don't know how to laugh
I am not able to find joy anymore

I try and make the social scene
I try to be social and go out

but I get drunk and turn into a fool
But alcohol just makes me act foolish

Then I start a fight because I'm only half the man I was with you
I am angry and aggressive because I feel incomplete without her

said we'd never part until we die
We said we would be together forever

Why didn't you stop when you heard me cry
But she left even though I begged her to stay

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, heart is calling won't you Stay with me
My heart is longing for her to come back and stay with me

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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04The Minnesota Strip4:06

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Ches Lee Pack

4y↑15

I shuffle down the street
My eyes are on my feet
I got no place to go
I try to reason why
But end up getting high
I'm drinking more it shows
I stare into the TV screen
But every face reminds me of a girl
I never used to be so mean
But I can't bear to face my shattered world,
You just ain't fair to this romeo
I fell apart when I watched you go
Baby, baby, baby
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
Heart is calling won't you
Stay with me
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
Heart is calling won't you
Stay with me
The stars they used to shine
But now my tears they blind
The fun we used to have
At night I toss and turn,
The memories they burn
I don't know how to laugh
I try and make the social scene
But I get drunk and turn into a fool
Then I start a fight because I'm only half the man I was with you
Said we'd never part until we die
Why didn't you stop when you heard me cry
Baby, baby, baby
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
Heart is calling won't you
Stay with me
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my,
Heart is calling won't you
Stay with me

All comments from YouTube:

dave B

5y↑19

These guys deserve more credit and recognition

MM R

6y↑40

hugely underrated band.

Brian Woods

First listen, brilliant. .....

dumpstercrust

5y↑1

Can't give enough thumbs up!!!!!!

John LaStrada

7y↑13

Monster song -- great guitar lick. Covered very well by both The Del Lords and...and...50's rocker DION. His live version is on YouTube and it smokes just like the original. This is The Dictators best song...masterpiece. Desert Island disc for sure.