Stay With Me by Faces

Album: A Nod Is as Good as a Wink...To a Blind Horse (1971)

Charted: 6 17

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Songfacts®:

This Mod anthem was written by Faces lead singer Rod Stewart and their guitarist Ronald David Wood, best known as future Rolling Stones member Ronnie Wood. The song is a tale of sexual debauchery where Stewart gives a step-by-step account on how to pick up a groupie for a one-night-stand. He makes it very clear that she should be gone in the morning, although he does offer to pay her cab fare home.

The song was the first and biggest American hit for the Faces, although Rod Stewart scored his massive solo hit "Maggie May" four months before "Stay With Me" was released in November 1971. In "Maggie," which is based on a true story, Stewart is the object of sexual conquest. Psychologists could have a lot to say about this one!
This has been covered by Elf featuring Ronnie James Dio (1972), Elkie Brooks (1978), Rod Stewart with Kim Carnes and Tina Turner (1982), Rod Stewart himself (1993), Manic Street Preachers with Bernard Butler on guitar during their 1994 European tour and Def Leppard (August 5, 2002). Plus as a B-side on the "Do Ya" single by McFly.
The song is heard over the closing credits of the films Sahara and Wedding Crashers.
Stewart notes his conquest's "red lips, hair and fingernails," and repeats the rumor that she's a "mean old Jezebel." Jezebel is a notorious figure in the Bible, known for leading Israel away from God during her reign as queen of the nation's northern kingdom, alongside King Ahab. She's often portrayed as a seductress for her use of makeup, jewels, and other finery, which were tools of the trade for prostitutes at the time.
Rod Stewart included "Stay With Me" in many of his sets when he toured as a solo artist, and he often found occasion to perform it with Ron Wood, starting in 1993 when they teamed up for an MTV Unplugged performance that was released as the album Unplugged... and Seated. They performed it together a few times in 2004, and in 2015 they teamed with Faces drummer Kenney Jones for a set that included the song at a cancer benefit in Surrey, England. The three played it again at the 2020 BRIT Awards, and in 2025, Wood came on stage during Stewart's set at the Glastonbury Festival to perform the song.

Comments: 5

Bigblue1894 from Manchester England. Home Of Rock’n’roll And Proper FootballGreat version. Different lyrics to the single version and that makes me think that whilst this was broadcast in Jan 72, it was undoubtedly recorded earlier possibly August 71.
Joetoronto from Toronto, CanadaOne of the greatest, if not the single greatest, rocker of all time. The structure of this song, combined with the emotionally charged singing of Rod Stewart and the nasty filthy licks of Ronnie Wood, is just incredible.

From the opening note Wood plays that lifts your feet off the floor, followed by a nasty lick and 4 beats of the drums, the band hits 100 miles an hour in record time.

They hit such a feverish pace that it seems they’re going off the tracks but they don’t and instead hit overdrive and yet almost come to a complete stop a few times before going back to full speed in a heart beat every time, crazy stuff that only a band as talented and loose as the Faces could pull off.

The stop at the end is as classic as the beginning, this song will forever be in my heart, now and forever.
Dannybhoy from Sydney Australia This is a track that really rocks. This was rock and roll in its best attributes when you listen to the live versions of this track you can hear and feel the whole band just picking up a pace that was uncontrollable. One of the best rock and roll tracks of all time. Shame that money and sickness destroyed this band. RIP Ronnie Lane
Jon from Bonita Beach, FlKaren..the relationship that brought Ronnie to the Rolling Stones was with Keith Richards. The two guitarists have similar styles and shared a taste for raw, punchy R & R, and open tunings. Plus they shared a love of intoxicants..any and all.
Karen from Kennett Square, PaI know the lyrics are bawdy, but damn I love this tune. It really makes you wonder what The Faces could have done if Ronnie had not been snatched up by Mick Jagger.

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