Stay

About this song

Kristian Bush does not add harmonizing vocals to the song, playing only acoustic guitar behind Jennifer Nettles' lead vocal. The song is inspired by Reba McEntire's 1986 single "Whoever's in New England" and serves as a response to it from the mistress's point of view.

What it's about

The song is told from the perspective of a woman who is having an affair with a married man. Early on she begs him to stay rather than return to his wife, but over the course of the song she comes to doubt she will ever be his first choice, and by the end she leaves the decision up to him.

Summary written with AI, based on the song's page on Genius.

Fun facts

• Covered 3 times, including “Stay by Ronan Keating”.
• Written by Jennifer Nettles.
• Produced by Jennifer Nettles, Kristian Bush and Byron Gallimore.