Stay (Pink Floyd song)

Infobox Single
Name = Stay


Artist = Pink Floyd
from Album = Obscured by Clouds
A-side = Free Four (US single)
Released = June 3, 1972 (UK)
June 15, 1972 (US)
July 10, 1972 (US single)
Format = 7"
Recorded = February-March 1972
Château d'Hiérouville, Pontoise, France
Genre = Progressive rock
Length = 4:07
3:58 (US single)
Label = Harvest
Writer = Roger Waters
Rick Wright
Producer = Pink Floyd
Chart position = * #46 (US)
Last single = "One of These Days"
(1971)
This single = "Free Four"
(1972)
Next single = "Money"
(1973)
Misc = Extra tracklisting
Album = Obscured by Clouds
Type = studio
prev_track = "Free Four"
prev_no = 8
this_track = "Stay"
this_no = 9
next_track = "Absolutely Curtains"
next_no = 10"Stay" is a song from Pink Floyd's 1972 album "Obscured by Clouds". It is known for being one of the album's particularly slow-moving, lyrical songs.

Lyrics

The lyrics, written by Roger Waters and sung by composer Rick Wright, vacillate between frustration and indifference felt towards a casual sex partner (perhaps a groupie). In this regard it is not unlike Wright's own "Summer '68".

Music

Musically, the main theme and verse of the song stays on a pedal point of G in the bass, while the chords above it change in a typical I-IV-V progression (G, C, and D Major). The D Major over the G bass results in the appearance of a G Major ninth chord, evoking a "melancholy" or "bittersweet" feeling. The chorus modulates to the parallel minor, with a chord change of G minor to C Major, a common progression in Wright's compositions. (See "Pow R. Toc H.", the , or "The Great Gig in the Sky".) Because this chord change evokes a ii-V-I progression left unfinished (it would have to resolve to F Major), the effect is appropriately dissatisfying, as the chorus delves into a profusion of barely-related chords, a convoluted but eventually successful attempt to resolve back to G Major.

Instrumentation

The instrumentation is mostly Wright's piano and Waters's bass, with a solo and other ornamental touches from guitarist David Gilmour making heavy use of a Wah-wah pedal.

Release

The song was released along with "Free Four" as a single from the album. This song was covered on the Echoes of Pink tribute album in 2002.