If You Let Me Stay

Album: Introducing The Hardline According To Terence Trent d'Arby (1987)
Charted: 7 68
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Songfacts®:

  • This was the first single for Terence Trent D'Arby, who became Sananda Maitreya when he changed his name in 2001. The song finds him pleading with a girl, who has grown tired of his ways and has packed her bags to leave. According to Maitreya, this song came from his imagination: "Most of my songs are not so much autobiographical as me placing myself in situations that others can relate to." (From a 2005 Songfacts interview with Maitreya)
  • D'Arby was born in New York, but was living in England when he signed to CBS Records. His initial success was in the UK, where this song took off thanks to numerous performances on British TV, where he captivated viewers with his soulful sound, slick dance moves and unique style. MTV ignored that one though, and the song stalled at #68 in the US. D'Arby's next single, "Wishing Well," was his American breakthrough, getting heaps of airplay on MTV and reaching #1 on the Hot 100.

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