I'm a Sucker for This Stuff

I'm struggling under a work deadline but I can't help myself -- I'm going to stop and post the lyrics to Sugarland's "Stay" which won two awards last night at the Academy of Country Music Awards show: Song of the Year and Single Record of the Year.

"Stay" was written and sung by the duo's vocalist Jennifer Nettles accompanied by the other half of the duo, Kristian Bush, on acoustic guitar. It is rare for country music songs: long, unplugged (acoustic), and "no drums" as Nettles said when accepting the award. (Not only is she a great songwriter and vocalist, she's really funny -- as when she told her partner when they accepted their second award, "Thank your wife.") It is quintessential country: absolutely heart-wrenching. Nettles has a voice that kills suckers like me. And her performance on the song's video is amazing. Either she's a great actor or the song broke her heart as she was singing it.

I'm posting the lyrics because, even though I've heard it on the radio a number of times, I never listened to it all the way through and so never caught the reversal between the first "why don't you stay" chorus and the last. Almost identical words in both but with 180 degree reversal in meaning. That is great country songwriting, and it's why country music endures. It's got the perfect placement of a minor chord that touches the pain that everyone has felt who's ever been in a relationship that went south. Really amazing.

I'm spelling all this out because I know most of the people who read this aren't familiar with the song or the video. But I hope you'll read the lyrics, compare the two choruses, and then watch Nettles sing it on the video. Even if you're not a fan of country music, you can be a fan of great songwriting, arranging, and singing. (The embed feature on YouTube was disabled for this song so I can't post the video here -- but you can watch it by going to YouTube.)

Call me a sucker for tear-jerkers. I admit it -- I love songs like this. Note: I'm not championing the "story" of this song -- the relational mess that's portrayed. Just the power of simple words, melody, and voice, regardless of subject.

"Stay"
Jennifer Nettles

I've been sitting here staring at the clock on the wall
And I've been laying here praying, praying she won't call
It's just another call from home
And you'll get it and be gone
And I'll be crying

And I'll be begging you, baby
Beg you not to leave
But I'll be left here waiting
With my Heart on my sleeve
Oh, for the next time we'll be here
Seems like a million years
And I think I'm dying

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 being 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 telling 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 being used and I'm tired of waiting
It's too much pain to have to bear
To love a man you have to share

Why don't you stay?
I'm down on my knees
I'm so tired of being 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

I can't take it any longer
But my will is getting 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 being 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.