Stay – English Lyrics

• By: Rihanna, Mikky Ekko

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the emotional depths of "Stay," a poignant ballad by Rihanna and Mikky Ekko. Through its simple yet powerful lyrics, you can learn to express complex feelings of vulnerability and longing in English. The song's raw honesty and minimalist arrangement make it a compelling piece for understanding the nuances of emotional language in music.

[English]

All along it was a fever

...

A cold sweat, hot-headed believer

I threw my hands in the air, I said, "Show me something"

He said, "If you dare, come a little closer"

Round and around, and around, and around we go

...

Oh, now, tell me now, tell me now, tell me now, you know

...

Not really sure how to feel about it

Something in the way you move

Makes me feel like I can't live without you

It takes me all the way

I want you to stay

...

It's not much of a life you're living

...

It's not just something you take, it's given

Round and around, and around, and around we go

...

Oh, now, tell me now, tell me now, tell me now, you know

Not really sure how to feel about it

Something in the way you move

Makes me feel like I can't live without you

It takes me all the way

And I want you to stay

...

Ooh, the reason I hold on

Ooh, 'cause I need this hole gone

...

Funny, you're the broken one

But I'm the only one who needed saving

'Cause when you never see the light

It's hard to know which one of us is caving

Not really sure how to feel about it

Something in the way you move

Makes me feel like I can't live without you

It takes me all the way

I want you to stay

Stay

I want you to stay

Ooh

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
stay /steɪ/ A1	verb - to remain in the same place or condition; to not leave noun - a period of remaining in a place
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - to experience an emotion or a physical sensation noun - a sensation or emotion
move /muːv/ A1	verb - to change position or cause something to change position noun - an act of moving, a change of position
know /nəʊ/ A1	verb - to have information or understanding about something
want /wɒnt/ A1	verb - to desire or wish for something noun - a lack or shortage of something; a desire
live /lɪv/ A1	verb - to have life; to be alive
sure /ʃʊə/ A2	adjective - confident that you are right; certain
take /teɪk/ A1	verb - to lay hold of; to get into one's possession
give /ɡɪv/ A1	verb - to hand over something to someone; to provide
way /weɪ/ A1	noun - a method, style, or manner of doing something noun - a path or route
light /laɪt/ A1	noun - the natural agent that stimulates sight and makes things visible
broken /ˈbrəʊkən/ B1	adjective - separated into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain adjective - (of a person) emotionally hurt; defeated
hard /hɑːd/ A2	adjective - difficult to do or understand adjective - solid, firm, and resistant to pressure
reason /ˈriːzən/ A2	noun - a cause, explanation, or justification for an action or event
hole /həʊl/ A2	noun - a hollow place in a solid body or surface noun - a difficult or unpleasant situation
fever /ˈfiːvə/ B1	noun - an abnormally high body temperature noun - a state of extreme excitement or nervousness
sweat /swet/ B1	noun - moisture exuded through the pores of the skin verb - to exude moisture through the pores of the skin
dare /deə/ B2	verb - to have the courage to do something noun - a challenge to do something

Key Grammar Structures

• Not really sure how to feel about it

  ➔ "how to + infinitive" (Infinitive Clause)

  ➔ This structure, as in "how to feel", is used to express uncertainty or a question about how to perform an action. It often functions as an embedded question or noun phrase, replacing a full clause like 'how should I feel'.

• Makes me feel like I can't live without you

  ➔ Causative verb "make" + object + base form; "feel like + clause"

  ➔ "Makes me feel" shows that one thing causes another to happen (e.g., 'something in the way you move' causes 'me to feel'). "Feel like + clause" introduces a feeling or impression, indicating a strong inclination or belief.

• I want you to stay

  ➔ Verb + object + to-infinitive (Verb Pattern)

  ➔ The phrase "I want you to stay" uses the common verb pattern 'want + object + to-infinitive'. Many verbs (e.g., ask, tell, advise, expect) follow this structure to express a desire or instruction for someone else to do something.

• It's not much of a life you're living

  ➔ Reduced Relative Clause (omitted 'that/which'); Present Continuous for ongoing action

  ➔ In "a life you're living", the relative pronoun 'that' or 'which' is omitted, forming a reduced relative clause (e.g., 'a life that you're living'). "You're living" uses the present continuous tense to describe an ongoing or habitual action that characterizes the 'life'.

• it's given

  ➔ Passive Voice (Present Simple)

  ➔ The phrase "it's given" is in the passive voice. It emphasizes the action ('given') and its recipient ('it') rather than the agent (who gives), which is either unknown or considered less important in this context.

• Ooh, 'cause I need this hole gone

  ➔ "need + object + past participle/adjective" (Causative-like structure)

  ➔ The structure "I need this hole gone" expresses a requirement for something ('this hole') to be in a certain state ('gone'). It's similar to causative verbs like 'have' or 'get' (e.g., 'I need this hole to be gone'). "Gone" here functions as an adjective.

• But I'm the only one who needed saving

  ➔ Relative Pronoun "who" + Passive Infinitive ("needed saving" / "needed to be saved")

  ➔ "who needed saving" uses the relative pronoun 'who' to refer to a person. "Needed saving" is a common passive infinitive construction, meaning 'needed to be saved', where the action of saving is performed on the subject.

• Funny, you're the broken one

  ➔ Adjective as a Commenting Adverbial (Sentence Adverb)

  ➔ When "Funny" is placed at the beginning of a sentence, separated by a comma, it functions as a sentence adverb. It comments on the entire situation or statement that follows, meaning 'It's funny that...' or 'It's ironic that...'. "Broken" is a past participle used as an adjective.

• It's hard to know which one of us is caving

  ➔ Dummy "It" + adjective + infinitive; Embedded Question with "which"

  ➔ "It's hard to know" uses the dummy 'It' as a placeholder subject, where the real subject is the infinitive clause 'to know which one of us is caving'. "which one of us is caving" is an embedded question acting as the object of 'know', inquiring about identity within a group.