Stay (I Missed You)

"Stay (I Missed You)" was a breakthrough 1994 song for singer Lisa Loeb. It was included on the Reality Bites soundtrack, as well as her debut album, Tails.

"Stay" ultimately went on to become a number one hit, earning her the distinction of being the only artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart before being signed to any record label. It also reached #6 on the UK Singles Chart.

"Stay" later placed 93rd on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's.

Loeb was discovered by actor and friend Ethan Hawke, who lived in an apartment across the street from her in New York City. She met Hawke through mutual friends in the NYC theatre community. Loeb had been performing "Stay (I Missed You)" to positive response at her shows, and Hawke gave a tape of Loeb's song to director Ben Stiller during the making of the film Reality Bites. Stiller subsequently agreed to use the song in the film and on the film's soundtrack.

This song was just named "Stay" originally. But at the time it was getting popular, there were several popular songs with "Stay" in their title (such as the U2 song "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)"). Because of this "(I Missed You)" was tacked on to the end to differentiate it from the others.

The music video was directed by Ethan Hawke, and features Loeb singing and walking and flinging her arms around in her empty NYC apartment, in which she lived at the time.

The video was filmed in just one shot, with no editing.

B-side: "Stay (I Missed You)" (Living Room Mix-acoustic)
Released: 1994
Format: CD single
Genre: Pop
Length: 3:04
Label: RCA
Writer(s): Lisa Loeb

you say i only hear what i want to.
you say i talk so all the time so.

and i thought what i felt was simple,
and i thought that i don't belong,
and now that i am leaving,
now i know that i did something wrong 'cause i missed you.
yeah, i missed you.

and you say i only hear what i want to:
i don't listen hard,
i don't pay attention to the distance that you're running
or to anyone, anywhere,
i don't understand if you really care,
i'm only hearing negative: no, no, no.

so i turned the radio on, i turned the radio up,
and this woman was singing my song:
the lover's in love, and the other's run away,
the lover is crying 'cause the other won't stay.

some of us hover when we weep for the other who was
dying since the day they were born.
well, this is not that:
i think that i'm throwing, but i'm thrown.

and i thought I'd live forever, but now i'm not so sure.

you try to tell me that i'm clever,
but that won't take me anyhow, or anywhere with you.

you said that i was naive,
and i thought that i was strong.
i thought, "hey, i can leave, i can leave."
but now i know that i was wrong, 'cause i missed you.

you said, "i caught you 'cause i want you and one day i'll let you go."
"you try to give away a keeper, or keep me 'cause you know you're just scared to lose.
and you say, "stay."

you say i only hear what i want to.