This week Jim Adams has prompted us with Come/Go/Leave/Stay for this weeks Song Lyric Sunday. Well, there is a crap ton of songs in the Country Music genre to cover these headliners, but I went with my first thought when I saw this prompt.
Sugarland is a powerful Country Music duo created in Atlanta, Georgia and is made up of Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush. Kristen Hall was a third original members, but left the band after only one album. The duo as “Sugarland” signed with Mercury Nashville Records in 2004. In 2008, Hall filed a lawsuit for $14 million against Bush and Nettles stating that she was excluded from sharing profits as had been agreed upon after her departure. The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2010 and the details of that settlement were not disclosed.
“Stay” by Sugarland is a tear jerker and the first song of Sugarland solely written by Jennifer Nettles, their lead singer. Nettles wrote this song in 2003 after being inspired by Reba McEntire’s song “Whoever’s in New England” which was from the perspective of the wife being cheated on. “Stay” is about betrayal written in the “other woman’s” perspective.
Quote from Nettles regarding the song: “Even though the person who is cheating might think he or she is getting away with something, they know they aren’t living their highest truth, and they wouldn’t be in the situation if they were just happy-go-lucky in the first place. Nobody is happy in this situation.”
There are always at least three people involved in a cheating situation, but human nature often shuns the non-committed cheater (husband or wife). In this case it was the other woman feeling hurt and afraid of being left alone when the affair ended in a non-commitment.
Nettles told CMT in 2007 that once she decided to write this song from the other woman’s perspective, the song pretty much wrote itself.
The first time Kristian Bush heard this song, he was blown away by the lyrics. When Sugarland started playing this in front of fans, they received odd looks as the fans thought the song was between Jennifer and Kristian. They both set everyone straight that their relationship was and had always been a “brother-sister” relationship.
I've been sittin' here, starin' at the clock on the wall And I've been layin' here, prayin' Prayin' she won't call It's just another call from home, and you'll get it And be gone, and I'll be cryin' And I'll be beggin' you, baby Beg you not to leave But I'll be left here waitin' My heart on my sleeve Oh, for the next time we'll be here Seems like a million years, and I think I'm dyin' What do I have to do to make you see She can't love you like me? Why don't you stay? I'm down on my knees I'm so tired of bein' lonely Don't I give you what you need? When she calls you to go There is one thing you should know We don't have to live this way Baby, why don't you stay? You keep tellin' me, baby There will come a time When you will leave her arms And forever be in mine But I don't think that's the truth And I don't like bein' used, and I'm tired of waitin' It's too much pain to have to bear To love a man you have to share I can't take it any longer, but my will is gettin' stronger And I think I know just what I have to do I can't waste another minute After all that I've put in it I've given you my best Why does she get the best of you? So next time you find you wanna leave her bed for mine Why don't you stay? I'm up off my knees I'm so tired of bein' lonely You can't give me what I need When she begs you not to go There is one thing you should know I don't have to live this way Baby, why don't you stay? Source: LyricFind Songwriters: Jennifer Nettles Stay lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lest we forget, yet another unforgettable song–“I’ll Think I’ll Stay”–from Merle. Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqpVtArOfeA
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WordPress is waiting for you. You could have added this song this week.
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Nice song Lisa and cheating seems to be a common theme in Country Music.
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America certainly has profited on what was being done in Europe for centuries before our country became independent. Country music seems to be the vessel of choice with the theme continuing today with many people for their own reasons. 😉
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There was a time that was part of my story. Great choice for today.
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Mine too. Thanks!
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Love this song and it was on my list of possibilities! Sad but triumphant too! Great share! 👍
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Thanks. 😊
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Cheating is sordid any which way you look at it. That said, she has a great voice and he’s not too bad on the eyes 😉
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Great song!
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Yes it is. 😊
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Great track!
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Thanks. I’ve always thought so. I cried the first 20 times I heard it when it came out. 😢. I’m a sucker for the story.
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I’m not a fan of C&W the way I used to be due to the change of sound in most mainstream songs, but any time a singer can belt out vocals with nothing more than an acoustic guitar backing them, I love it. Great song pick! 🙂
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