My Gen X Playlist: Stay – Sugarland

Do you trust your instincts?

I trust my instincts and listen to it before any major decision. I think the voice in my head is a mixture of intuition, life experience and a little bit of common sense. Instincts continue to evolve as we live and learn. A general rule of thumb: If you start out by saying, “Man, this is a bad idea. . .” It probably is.

I was thinking about songs about accepting the truth, something always known deep down inside. Sugarland’s Stay is a song about a woman continuing a relationship, held by a married man’s false promises of leaving his wife. It’s unique because it’s from the point of view of the other woman. The video is emotional, bringing Jennifer Nettles to tears.

The song is about a woman who is having an affair with a married man who keeps promising her that he’s going to divorce his wife to be with her. By the end of the song, she realizes that he’s not going to honor his words, and she tells him to stay with his wife instead.

Nettles wanted to write from the perspective of the two people doing the cheating. Said Nettles: “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.”

– Songfacts

“People have asked, ‘What were you thinking of when you were crying?’ ” Jennifer says. “I wasn’t thinking of anything. I was considering the song, and this is a song about loss. This is about at times losing oneself and also losing a love, and doing something that is right for yourself in leaving, even though it’s very painful.”

– answers

When you step back and look at the situation, it’s a complete mess. I’m sure this started out as “Man, this is a bad idea. . .”

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

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, yeah?