Stay (Pink Floyd song)
Encyclopedia
"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. The song was also issued as the B-side of "Free Four
".
and music written and sung by Richard 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
".
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 "Funky Dung" section of the "Atom Heart Mother" suite, 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.
and Waters' bass guitar
, with a solo and other ornamental touches from guitarist David Gilmour
making heavy use of a clean wah-wah pedal
.
1972 in music
-Events:*January 17 – Highway 51 South in Memphis, Tennessee is renamed "Elvis Presley Boulevard"*January 20 – The début of Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon at The Dome, Brighton, is halted by technical difficulties,...
album Obscured by Clouds
Obscured by Clouds
-Singles:*"Free Four"/"Stay" *"Free Four"/"The Gold It's in the..." -Personnel:Pink Floyd*David Gilmour – guitars, vocals, pedal steel guitar, VCS3*Nick Mason – drums, percussion...
. It is known for being one of the album's particularly slow-moving, lyrical songs. The song was also issued as the B-side of "Free Four
Free Four
"Free Four" is a Pink Floyd song written and sung by Roger Waters, from the album Obscured by Clouds.The song begins with a rock and roll count-in; but in this case Pink Floyd decided to play with words and record, "One, Two, FREE FOUR!" The song deals with themes that would become standard for...
".
Lyrics
The lyrics, written by Roger WatersRoger Waters
George Roger Waters is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. He was a founding member of the progressive rock band Pink Floyd, serving as bassist and co-lead vocalist. Following the departure of bandmate Syd Barrett in 1968, Waters became the band's lyricist, principal songwriter...
and music written and sung by Richard Wright
Richard Wright (musician)
Richard William Wright was an English pianist, keyboardist and songwriter, best known for his career with Pink Floyd. Wright's richly textured keyboard layers were a vital ingredient and a distinctive characteristic of Pink Floyd's sound...
, vacillate between frustration and indifference felt towards a casual sex partner (perhaps a groupie
Groupie
A groupie is a person who seeks emotional and sexual intimacy with a musician or other celebrity. "Groupie" is derived from group in reference to a musical group, but the word is also used in a more general sense, especially in casual conversation....
). In this regard it is not unlike Wright's own "Summer '68
Summer '68
"Summer '68" is a song by Pink Floyd on their album Atom Heart Mother. Written and sung by Richard Wright, it is about a one night stand, and the return to habitual life. The soft piano intro contrasts with the bombastic trumpet solo breaks in the middle and end of the song, the latter breaks...
".
Music
Musically, the main theme and verse of the song stays on a pedal pointPedal point
In tonal music, a pedal point is a sustained tone, typically in the bass, during which at least one foreign, i.e., dissonant harmony is sounded in the other parts. A pedal point sometimes functions as a "non-chord tone", placing it in the categories alongside suspensions, retardations, and passing...
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
Ninth
In music, a ninth is a compound interval consisting of an octave plus a second.Like the second, the interval of a ninth is classified as a dissonance in common practice tonality. Since a ninth is a larger than a second, its sonority level is considered less dense.-Major ninth:A major ninth is a...
chord, evoking a "melancholy" or "bittersweet" feeling. The chorus modulates to the parallel minor
Parallel key
In music, parallel keys are the major and minor scales that have the same tonic. A major and minor scale sharing the same tonic are said to be in a parallel relationship...
, with a chord change of G minor to C major, a common progression in Wright's compositions. (See "Pow R. Toc H.
Pow R. Toc H.
"Pow R. Toc H." is an instrumental song with vocal effects, from Pink Floyd's 1967 album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. In addition to the vocal effects, piano is a prominent instrument in this piece.-Information:...
", the "Funky Dung" section of the "Atom Heart Mother" suite, or "The Great Gig in the Sky
The Great Gig in the Sky
"The Great Gig in the Sky" is the fifth track from English progressive rock band Pink Floyd's 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon. It features voice instrumental music by Clare Torry.-Composition:...
".) 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 pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and Waters' bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, with a solo and other ornamental touches from guitarist David Gilmour
David Gilmour
David Jon Gilmour, CBE, D.M. is an English rock musician and multi-instrumentalist who is best known as the guitarist, one of the lead singers and main songwriters in the progressive rock band Pink Floyd. In addition to his work with Pink Floyd, Gilmour has worked as a producer for a variety of...
making heavy use of a clean wah-wah pedal
Wah-wah pedal
A wah-wah pedal is a type of guitar effects pedal that alters the tone of the signal to create a distinctive effect, mimicking the human voice...
.
External links
- [ AMG song review]